Teamsters, SoCal Supermarkets OK 5-Year Deal

RIALTO (AP) — Teamsters union drivers and warehouse workers have overwhelmingly approved a five-year deal with Southern California's major supermarket chains.

Workers get hikes in pay with no raises in medical costs.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 63 business manager Randy Korgan says about 5,000 union workers at Albertson, Ralphs, Stater Bros., Vons and several smaller chains ratified the contract. Negotiations started in August.

Korgan told the Riverside Press-Enterprise that the combined increases in pay and pension contributions exceed a $2.40 per hour pay raise reached five years ago. But he wouldn't give details of the pact approved by 98 percent of voting union members.

He says the new contract keeps the medical plan intact with no employee out-of-pocket expenses.

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