Members of Local 400, which covers the Frederick area, and Local 27, which covers the Eastern Shore, voted to accept a new four-year contract.

Amber Sparks, a spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers International, said Wednesday that employees voted overwhelmingly for the deal.

It includes a pay increase of $1.50 per hour over four years, increased pay for starting employees, no reduction in health care, and increased contributions from Safeway and Giant to pensions.

The contract, which went into effect Tuesday, covers about 23,000 workers in the Baltimore and Washington regions, Sparks said.

The new contract also includes advanced scheduling notice, she said.

"That will improve the ability for workers to plan for child care or other things they need to do ahead of time," Sparks said, rather than last-minute notices that they have to work an extra shift or change work schedules.