You’re free to continue shopping. More than 200 workers at Maricopa's Fry’s Marketplace will head to work today not having to worry about a strike. "We are delighted that our customers will see the same friendly faces of our great people in their neighborhood Fry's store," said JoEllen Lynn, Fry’s Food Store spokeswoman. Had a contract agreement not been reached by 6 p.m. today, local employees would have joined nearly 20,000 Fry's workers statewide to walk off the job. According to a Fry’s statement, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99, Kroger Company, the owner of Fry's, reached a tentative settlement on a new collective bargaining agreement late Thursday evening. The union will submit the tentative agreement to its members with a recommendation that it be approved. Fry’s and the union have agreed to extend the existing contract pending the outcome of the membership vote. Union spokeswoman Ellen Anreder said no details of the tentative agreement will be released until the union and members have a chance to review the agreement and vote. The previous five-year contract between the union and the companies expired in October 2008, and employees have worked under a series of extensions, the last of which expired Oct. 31 of this year. "Fry's Food Stores looks forward to having our great Fry's associates serve our customers during the ratification process,” Lynn said. Photo by Michael K. Rich |