Wawa Food Markets' unionized truck drivers and warehouse workers yesterday ratified a new five-year contract with the company and could be back on the job as early as today. The 285 members of Teamsters Local 463 and 473 took down pickets, ending a 10-day strike, after the two sides reached the tentative agreement late Wednesday night following a 13-hour negotiating session at City Hall. ''It's a big relief,'' Teamsters Local 463 spokesperson Bob Ryder said. ''It's a good deal for members. Everyone is anxious to vote and get back to work.'' Under the agreement, workers would receive a wage increase of 3.5 percent each year for the life of the contract with payment of time-and-a-half on Sunday limited to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Overtime pay on Sunday was one of the major issues. ''We are extremely pleased,'' said Dick Wood, Wawa president and CEO. ''The agreement enables Wawa to achieve the flexibility needed for Sunday deliveries to meet customer needs.'' Wawa negotiator Steve Wall said there may be some temporary layoffs because Wawa lost several wholesale contracts, but he said the company would work with the union on the issue. The contract promises no layoffs for those with two years of service, beginning in January. Ryder estimated that yesterday's voice vote by union members was close, about 55 percent to 45 percent. ''There are a lot of bitter people out there,'' Ryder said. "They are mad at the company because of the way they've been treated. They feel like they've been locked out? left out of work for 10 days. A lot of these guys have been with the company 30 years, they helped build this company. The company's got a lot of work to do.'' U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (R-Pa.) who entered the talks Wednesday at the request of the union, was credited with helping the two sides come together. Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Collins had called both sides back in court for talks after expressing ''her dismay that the court's time was being taken up with arguments'' about picketing. She warned the Teamsters that she would impose new picketing restrictions sought by the company if no deal was reached. Wawa truck drivers and warehouse workers walked out October 3 over pension rights and Sunday overtime pay. Wawa owns 510 stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.
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