Local 400 members working at Shoppers unanimously ratified a new, three-year collective bargaining agreement yesterday that puts more money in their pockets faster, and fully maintains their health and retirement security. “These talks were very difficult, but our members hung together and made this strong agreement possible,” said UFCW Local 400 President Mark P. Federici. Mike Rickord, a shop steward who works at Shoppers #2674 in Dumfries, VA, and served on the Contract Action Team, said that “This was one of the hardest fought and most difficult rounds of bargaining in dealing with the company, due to their unwillingness to understand the plight of their own workers. While it wasn’t confrontational, it was often disrespectful, but in the end, we got the respect and recognition we justly deserved. That was because of member solidarity and lots of hard work.” Read more.