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Union Pension Accord Reached in Calif.

LOS ANGELES — Seven locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the three major Southern California chains have reached a tentative agreement on the pension terms of their new labor contracts, the chains said. Talks to resolve other issues are continuing.

LOS ANGELES — Seven locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the three major Southern California chains have reached a tentative agreement on the pension terms of their new labor contracts, the chains said. Talks to resolve other issues are continuing.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement on this important part of the new labor agreement," the chains said in a prepared statement. "While we still have more work to do on other important parts of the contract, it is noteworthy we have been able to reach an agreement on the very challenging issue of pension benefits and the employers’ contributions which fund those benefits.”

The companies declined to otherwise comment on the details of the pension agreement.

Local press reports said the two sides were able to agree on pension terms because that issue was less rancorous than others, including health care coverage, which remains under discussion. The seven locals have been negotiating with Albertsons, Ralphs and Safeway since their contracts expired last March.

Talks have been proceeding since last month under the supervision of a federal mediator.