Safeway Workers in Bay Area Win Tentative Agreement, Avert Historic Strike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 26, 2025
Contact: Jim Araby, UFCW Local 5

Safeway Workers in Bay Area Win Tentative Agreement, Avert Historic Strike
Union Power and Community Support Deliver Major Gains for 16,000 Grocery Workers Across the Bay Area

Martinez, CA – July 26, 2025 — UFCW Local 5 and UFCW Local 648 are proud to announce a victory for 16,000 Safeway workers in the immediate Bay Area, as a tentative agreement has been reached with the company—just hours before a historic strike was set to begin.

The agreement comes after five months of determined negotiations and the growing momentum of a strike effort that would have marked the first regional labor stoppage against the company in nearly 30 years. Workers stood united, backed by overwhelming support from their communities, to demand the respect, wages, and protections they have long deserved.

“This is a hard-earned and inspiring victory,” said UFCW Local 5 President John Frahm and UFCW Local 648 President Dan Larson in a joint statement. “Because our members stood together—strong and unshakable—they secured a contract that reflects their value and delivers real improvements for their families and futures.”

Key Highlights of the Tentative Agreement:

  • Meaningful wage increases to reflect workers’ essential contributions
  • A strengthened pension plan that improves workers’ retirement savings
  • Fair scheduling improvements to enhance quality of life
  • Increase to health care contributions to keep benefits affordable and accessible
  • Enhanced job protection language to create safer, more respectful workplaces

Union leaders will be scheduling ratification votes in the coming days and are confident members will recognize the strength of what was achieved through their solidarity.

A Community-Backed Win:

“To every customer, ally, and elected leader who stood by our side—this win belongs to you, too,” Frahm and Larson added. “Bay Area communities made it clear: grocery workers deserve more than thanks—they deserve a fair deal. Because of your support, we won one together.”

Full details of the agreement will be released following ratification.