990333 Giant Eagle Employees Ratify New 5 Year Contract

Pittsburgh, PA - By more than a 55% to 45% margin employees of the 33 Corporate Giant Eagle stores located in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia have ratified a new five year labor agreement negotiated between their employer and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23 (UFCW). The Agreement was approved at 9 meetings held on Wednesday, March 1Oth with the wages being retroactive to March 1st.

The contract covers approximately 5000 Local 23 members working in the grocery and Meat and Deli departments. Providing for wage increases of $1.50 an hour -- $.50 cents the first year and $.25 cents in each of the following years, the offer was recommended by Local 23 President Ron Kean.

Kean said, “This Agreement is very respectable and one which will still allow Giant Eagle to be competitive against non-union competition, such as Wal- Mart.” Also included in the new Agreement will be a maintenance of current Health Benefits with no employee co-payments, new language permitting the hiring of part-time Meat Cutters without jeopardizing the status of any full-time Cutter, and improvements of language dealing with future raises should minimum wage be increased. Members will also enjoy the continuation of free “union provided” legal benefits with Giant Eagle agreeing to pay increased contributions on their behalf.

“Giant Eagle,” Kean stated, “has agreed to do things, for our members, at a time when many employers are forcing their employees to take reductions in wages, and make co-payments to maintain their Health Benefits.”

This Article Compliments of...