UFCW, KROGER REACH INITIAL DEAL IN DETROIT

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. -- The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876 here is expected this week to ratify a new three-year contract with Kroger.

after the previous contract expired on June 5. While the union called the pending deal the "best recently negotiated Kroger settlement in the United States," Kroger said it reached "a balanced solution," which provided the company some cost relief.

Both parties declined to discuss the contract in detail.

In an official statement, Ance Johnson, president of Local 876, said the deal did not require employee co-payments for health insurance -- a major issue for the retailer in other negotiations.