BALTIMORE (AP) — Safeway and Giant Food workers in the Baltimore-Washington region have approved a new contract with wage increases.

The United Food and Commercial Workers announced approval Tuesday of the agreement that also maintains key benefits and strengthens retirement security. The new contract increases health care coverage without additional co-pays.

Local 27, which represents workers in central Maryland and on the Eastern Shore, as well as Washington-area workers with Local 400 voted in separate meetings. The two locals represent 23,000 workers at the two grocery chains.

The previous contract, which expired Saturday, was for four years. The new contract covers only the next 19 months.

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