Northern California Workers Approve Grocery Contract.(Originated from The Sacramento Bee, Calif.)

Aug. 27--After eight months of clandestine labor negotiations, thousands of workers at Northern California Lucky and Safeway grocery stores have overwhelmingly approved a new, four-year contract.

Local 588 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union announced Tuesday that 95 percent of about 8,700 members who cast ballots by mail agreed to the pact. That vote, held over the past two weeks, includes grocery workers belonging to UFCW's Local 588 in Roseville and Local 373 in Vallejo.

The accord provides raises for the first time in 2{ years and becomes effective Sept. 7. It will expire Sept. 1, 2001.

Jack Loveall, president of Local 588 …