Kowalski’s had resisted negotiations with the union and imposed its own contract offer last August. Workers responded by holding rallies outside several stores. In October, workers at the five Kowalski-owned grocery stores in the east metro rejected the imposed offer. The new agreement replaces the imposed contract, the union said.

Union members approved the pact in voting conducted Sunday. “This agreement meets all St. Paul retail area labor standards and mirrors the already ratified agreements at Jerry\'s Cub and Lund\'s/Byerlys stores,” Local 1189 said.

The contract continues Kowalski’s participation in the grocery pension plans and includes wage progressions and a 10-cent-per-hour increase for those at the top of the wage scale.

Negotiations continue this month with the corporate Cub stores, Rainbow Foods and Festival/Knowlans, the union said. Workers at those stores are operating under extensions of the previous contract.

Local 1189 represents approximately 5,000 workers at grocery stores in the Twin Cities east metro.