After 74 days on the picket line, Alberta Safeway workers returned to work last weekend.
The labor dispute ultimately went to a mediator and workers across the province voted to accept a package that includes a 12 hours per week work guarantee and a raise.
Those earning less than $11.36 per hour receive an additional 25 cents an hour and those over that scale receive 50 cents an hour more.
The meat cutters were the final holdouts. They rejected the contract last week because it promised amnesty to those who crossed the picket line.
Further talks led to a vote 90 percent in favor of the contract.
United Food and Commercial Workers president Doug O’Halloran said the strike cost the union about $10 million.
Contentious issues
In 1993 Safeway stores in the province faced closure because of dwindling profits. Workers agreed to wage rollbacks of as much as $2.85 an hour. They wanted a return to the same wage level as four years ago as well as guaranteed hours of work for part-time staff.
Safeway employs about 10,000 people across the province.
