Members of UFCW Local 135, alongside union members from UFCW Locals throughout Southern and Central California, voted overwhelmingly this week in favor of a new contract negotiated over the past few months with Kroger, the parent company of Food 4 Less/FoodsCo.
With a year-long extension granted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new contract amounts to a four-year deal between the company and these essential, frontline workers.
Some of the new additions to the contract include:
- Significant wage increases over three years for those at the top rate
- Ratification bonuses for those at the top rate
- No reductions in health and pension benefits
- Scholarship fund
- More hours for those with five and fifteen years of service
- Another week of vacation for senior employees
- A new Health and Safety Committee at each location
- Bereavement Leave instead of Funeral Leave
- Shortened progression steps for APC and Service Clerks
Thanks to all of the members of UFCW Local 135 at Food 4 Less that took time out of their day to support themselves and their co-workers by voting on this contract. Though more work needs to be done, this deal is a big step forward for the thousands of essential workers that make up the Central and Southern California Food 4 Less/FoodsCo bargaining unit.
If you’re a member at Food 4 Less and you have questions regarding the new contract, please reach out to your union rep.
