SAFEWAY STRIKES CALIFORNIA LABOR DEAL

Safeway Inc. reportedly avoided a strike in northern California by agreeing to a four-year contract with United Food and Commercial Workers union members. The union covers more than 25,000 northern California employees. Details were withheld pending union members' ratification, Safeway said.

The deal gives workers ``substantial'' pay increases, avoids employee premiums for medical benefits and protects pension and benefits, said Jacques Loveall, president of UFCW 8-Golden State.