New Contract Highlights

United Food and Commercial Workers Union
Highlights of Contract Agreement with Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons

• Eliminates Two-Tier Wage Structure effective 3/5/07. All employees will be on the same wage progression schedule for their classification and will be eligible to reach the same top pay scale in their classification.
• Provides Retroactive Wage Increases. Immediate wage increases for employees retroactive back to March 5, 2007
• Wage increases annually. Over the 4 year term of contract, as an example, experienced food clerks and meat cutters will receive $1.65.
• Shortens Waiting Period for Health Care Eligibility to 6-months for new hires and dependent children. Shortens waiting period for spouses to 24 Months. All current employees who have worked for six months will be eligible for health care coverage.
• Provides Adequate Funding to Pay for Health Coverage for Term of the Contract. Union agrees to supplement employers’ contributions with $3,000 per employee from the health care trust fund to pay for health care coverage, which translates to 48% ($240 million) of the fund. A six-month reserve from the health care trust fund will be preserved at the end of the term of the contract.
• Preventative Health Care Included for All Employees. This includes routine physical exams, well baby care and childhood immunizations.
• Provides Graduation to Plan A Health Care Coverage for employees hired after March 2004.
• Pension contributions stabilized. Provides funding that allows current retirement levels to continue and preserves Golden Rule of 85.