More than 80 of Local 5’s newest members have ratified a first-time contract with Imperfect Foods, a San Francisco-based grocery delivery company.

The agreement includes wage increases averaging 5 percent, an additional paid holiday, guaranteed hours, employer-sponsored health care and an end to mandatory overtime. The deal also includes the establishment of a health and safety committee and for the first time, establishes a just-cause discipline standard backed by a grievance and arbitration process.

The workers voted in favor of union representation more than a year ago, responding to increased workloads, unsafe working conditions, rising employee health plan costs and a lack of job security. In spite of the usual delay tactics employed by the company, a strong worker organizing and bargaining committee kept their co-workers informed and together to achieve the final outcome.

“While I am one of the newer workers at the San Francisco location, I believe that the new contract is a really good deal in that it finally recognizes the contributions made by my longer-term coworkers, “said Fay Woods.

Faye sees the establishment of health and safety standards as one of the most important results of the settlement.

“As the only woman on the jobsite, I plan to participate on the new safety committee as well as being involved in every available opportunity for union involvement that is available.”

Imperfect Foods workers will join with recently unionized Safeway.com drivers in Local 5’s rapidly growing grocery home delivery membership.