Fairway workers approve new contract

Union workers at Fairway Markets have voted to approve a new three-year contract, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 said Friday.

The deal covers over 2,400 workers at Fairway 15 locations and is effective from March 30 to April 1, 2018. Fairway workers will receive six raises throughout the term, including a retroactive wage increase to March 30. All pension and welfare benefits will remain intact, the union added.

The contract also includes a number of quality of life issues such as increasing the number of minimum workweek hours for all workers. All workers, regardless of class or tenure, are guaranteed to be scheduled a minimum 21 hour workweek. "A majority of us have been with Fairway for at least 10-years, it's a family here," John Graham, a union negotiating committee member who works at Fairway in Paramus, said in a statement. "So increasing the minimum hours for everyone, regardless of how long you've worked here, is huge for us. It gives us all stability that will help our families."

 The agreement also includes a successors clause and increases contributions to the Union scholarship fund. "Our team was dedicated from the start to not only protect our contract, but to set a tone for future negotiations," lead union negotiator Rob Newell said in a statement. "Because of our solidarity in the stores, along with the drive and passion from our negotiating committee, we were able gain positive changes that secure stability and the livelihoods for 2,400 men and women and their families."

Suggested Categories	More from Supermarket News
Latest News Top 75 Retailers & Wholesalers Top 50 Small Chains & Independents Top 25 Global Retailers Power 50	SN Photo Galleries Videos Industry Voices SN Viewpoints Total Access Event Coverage