4,000 Union members OK Pa. Acme Markets labor pact

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20090715_ap_unionmembersokpaacmemarketslaborpact.html

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - Nearly 4,000 supermarket workers in the Philadelphia area have a union contract that runs until February 2012.

Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 voted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to approve the contract with Acme Markets. There were 985 votes in favor and 19 votes against.

The contract covers 40 Acme stores in Philadelphia and its surrounding Pennsylvania counties.

Previously, union members overwhelmingly rejected what Acme said was its best offer. The company contended that it had the right to impose those terms unilaterally on Friday but did not do so. Last-minute talks resulted in the tentative agreement reached early Wednesday.

Malvern, Pa.-based Acme is a division of Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Supervalu Inc.