Giant Eagle, the region's dominant grocer, and a union representing 5,100 employees in the area announced this morning that workers had voted to accept a new three-year contract.

Retail clerks voted 702-149 while meat and deli department employees voted 211-112 during meetings held Sunday and yesterday. The members work at 36 area supermarkets operated by the O'Hara grocery chain.

"The agreement represents a strong partnership between Giant Eagle and the union to improve wages, benefits and productivity," said Daniel Shapira, Giant Eagle special counsel, at a press conference this morning at One Oxford Centre, Downtown.

Both Mr. Shapira and Ron Lenhart, president of Local 23 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, praised the deal, which took about a month to work out, for helping the grocer compete with nonunion retailers such as Wal-Mart.

The deal includes raises of $1.15 per hour spread out over three years for employees who've been with the company at least three years as well as additional premiums for key positions. Employees will not have to contribute to health care coverage. The company has agreed to increase pension contributions by up to 17 cents per hour.

The union has agreed to be flexible in allowing staff to be moved into different positions throughout the store and in allowing the company to set schedules.