By Jesse Russell

A potential of a long dreaded grocery worker strike has been averted in Northern California. 25,000 workers were set to walk off the job at Safeway Supermakerts if contract negotiations broke down. The company agreed to a new four-year contract with the union. According to a press release from UFCW local 8 President Jacques Loveall the agreement amounts to substantial ''pay increases, avoids employee premiums for medical benefits and protects pension and benefits." The contract was approved one day after the previous contract expired.