Smith’s (Kroger) strikes deal with union (2,000 members)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2009/06/15/daily68.html

Friday, June 19, 2009, 1:10pm MDT

New Mexico Business Weekly

Employees with Smith’s Food & Drug in New Mexico have ratified a new labor agreement, said parent firm Kroger Co. on Friday.

Smith’s had reached a tentative deal on June 8 with the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 1564. The final agreement covers more than 2,000 Smith’s employees in 26 stores in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington and surrounding areas.

Details were not released.

“This agreement maintains quality jobs and affordable health care for our associates and their families in this challenging economy and keeps our stores competitive,” said Jim Hallsey, president of Smith’s Food & Drug, in a news release.

Smith’s is based in Salt Lake City and operates 133 stores throughout seven western states. Kroger (NYSE: KR) has 2,481 supermarkets in 31 states.