Following strike threat, New Mexico Albertsons and Smith’s workers ratify four-year union contracts

Grocery workers at Albertsons and Smith’s stores across New Mexico will get raises and improved benefits after voting to finalize new union contracts, narrowly avoiding a potential strike.

The two grocery chains reached an agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1564 late last month, about a week after 97% of union members voted to authorize a strike in response to claims of bad-faith bargaining by both companies.