The food workers’ union representing more than 2,000 workers with Gelson’s Markets voted to ratify a three-year labor contract at 27 upscale grocery stores throughout Southern California on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Gelson’s becomes the last of five regional supermarket chains to reach a deal with the United Food and Commercial Workers.
“Our journey to contract ratification saw a record turnout of grocery workers, customers, and community members, all fighting for the same thing — better stores, better lives, better communities,” the union said. “We fought to ensure our jobs would be sufficient to feed our own families and afford health benefits and a dignified retirement at the end of a long career. We also fought for more staffing to improve the customer experience at our stores,” the union said.
The UFCW, which did not share the results of the final ratification vote, said the new contract with Gelson’s secures higher wages, pension contributions, healthcare improvements, staffing and safety practices.
Ryan Adams, president and chief executive officer of Gelson’s, said in a statement to Southern California News Group that he was pleased that the chain reached an agreement with the food workers union.
“We’ve reached an agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers that supports our employees and positions Gelson’s to continue to deliver exceptional service to our customers,” said Adams, a former Albertson’s veteran who joined the Encino-based regional chain in April 2024. “We appreciate the hard work and good faith on both sides that went into reaching this outcome.”
Also see: Union, supermarket chains reach tentative labor deal, averting strike
Last month, nearly 45,000 grocery workers ratified contracts with Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos., which owns supermarkets under the Vons and Pavilion banners; Cincinnati-based Kroger Cos., which owns Ralphs; and Super A Foods, a family-owned supermarket chain based in Commerce that caters to Latino and Asian shoppers in the Los Angeles area.
And on Aug. 15, 12,000 workers with San Bernardino-based Stater Bros. Markets ratified its contract covering workers at the chain’s 172 stores in Southern California. The negotiations with Stater Bros did not go smoothly, especially after chain executives told 63 courtesy clerks they were laid off because of inflation and tariffs. In a video, the supermarket chain’s chief executive blamed inflation and tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump for cutting the clerks at several Southern California stores.
The UFCW also said in their statement Thursday that the union is working for a new contract for El Super Markets. No details were provided on those negotiations.
El Super Markets has over 69 stores across California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas. The chain is part of Chedraui USA Inc., which operates a total of 123 stores under the El Super Markets and Fiesta Mart banners. Chedraui is a unit of Grupo Commercial Chedraui, the third-largest retailer in Mexico.
El Super opened its first store in the U.S. in South Gate.