Shoppers cheer grocery labor peace

Ray Zivney would have shopped at Albertsons or Bashas’ if the employees had formed a picket line in front of Safeway in Sun City.

But the Sun Citian is relieved that won’t happen. Workers at Fry’s and Safeway stores in Arizona will remain on the job instead of walking a picket line.

"I’m very glad that this has been settled," he said. "It wouldn’t have done either the company, employees or the union any good at all."

Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99 said its members will vote in the coming weeks to decide whether to ratify a tentative three-year agreement reached late Thursday by the union, Safeway Inc. and The Kroger Co., which owns Fry’s and Smith’s.

Union leaders were recommending members approve the deal, but no date for a vote had been set. The union and grocers agreed to extend the previous contract until the workers’ vote.

No details of the deal were released publicly.

The union said in a news release early Friday there will be no work stoppage and all stores will continue to operate as normal.

Fry’s spokeswoman Meghan Glynn said the Arizona stores will operate normally.

"It’s great that we got our own people in our stores during the ratification process. You’ll see the same friendly faces that you’re accustomed to," she said Friday morning.

The previous five-year contract between the union and the companies expired in October 2008.

Mary Paulding, a Sun City resident who shops at Safeway, said she would have crossed the picket lines.

"I don’t believe in unions because the leaders of those groups are in it for themselves," she said. "I wasn’t happy when there was talk of this, but it’s settled."

Nancy Felix disagrees with Paulding.

Felix said she wouldn’t cross the picket lines.

"My brothers worked in unions and I know people who work at Safeway and Fry’s," she said. "I would have respected the strike, even though I’m glad it won’t come to this."

A strike at this time, Sun Citian Larry Brandt said, would have been the wrong idea.

"It’s not really wise to have a strike right now with the way the economy is," he said. "Many people are looking for jobs right now and need them."