Employees of Heinen's Inc. and Giant Eagle Inc. begin voting Tuesday on tentative three-year contracts that would raise wages while maintaining health care and pension benefits.

The contracts, which are retroactive to Sept. 14, cover about 9,700 employees in 111 supermarkets in Northeast Ohio. Workers will vote in their stores through Friday.

Terms of the agreements, negotiated separately with Giant Eagle grocery workers, Giant Eagle meat and deli workers, Heinen's grocery workers and Heinen's meat and deli workers, were unanimously recommended by the negotiating committee of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 880.
 

In a letter to members, Local 880 President Thomas H. Robertson and Secretary-Treasurer Robert B. Grauvogl called the agreements "excellent in light of the adverse conditions that we are all facing during these difficult times," including competition from Wal-Mart, Marc's and other non-union competitors.

The grocers' attorney, Frank W. Buck of Littler Mendelson law firm, could not be reached for comment.

Under the Giant Eagle and Heinen's grocery contracts:

• Clerks and cashiers would receive minimum hourly raises of 40 cents now, 40 cents in 2009 and 35 cents in 2010. Their wages now range from $7 to $13.05 per hour.

• Produce managers, whose wages range from $17.16 to $18.31 per hour, would receive hourly raises of 50 cents now, 50 cents in 2009 and 45 cents in 2010.

• Head dairy clerks, whose wages range from $16.13 to $16.75, would receive hourly raises of 50 cents now, 50 cents in 2009 and 45 cents in 2010.

• Part-time grocery clerks, who make from $7 to $8.85 per hour, would receive hourly raises of 40 cents now, 25 cents in 2009 and 25 cents in 2010.

• Giant Eagle and Heinen's will pay more toward their workers' health care plans, with no contributions from employees.

• Heinen's and Giant Eagle will contribute to employees' pension funds. While pension benefits accrued so far are protected, future accrual rates will be reduced after Jan. 1 because of a change in the pension law.

Under the meat and deli worker contracts:

• Meat department heads, whose wages range from $17.47 to $18.62 per hour, would get hourly raises of 50 cents now, 50 cents in 2009 and 45 cents in 2010.

• Head deli clerks, who make between $14.98 and $16.13 per hour, would get hourly raises of 50 cents now, 50 cents in 2009 and 45 cents in 2010.

• Heinen's and Giant Eagle will continue to contribute to their workers' health care and pension plans, with no employee contributions toward health care plans.