The Southern California grocery strike ended Sunday after workers voted in favor of a new contract, media outlets reported March 1.

The union representing the 70,000 grocery workers reached a tentative deal with the three retail chains last week, and workers voted over the weekend.

The Southern California grocery strike started Oct. 21 and dragged on despite numerous attempts to bring it to an end. The labor action covers more than 800 Southern California stores operated by Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons, roughly 60 percent of all groceries in the southern half of the state.

On Feb. 11, the two sides entered a new round of negotiations moderated by Peter Hurtgen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The United Food and Commercial Workers said in a statement Friday, Feb. 27, that the two sides had brokered a deal, and that workers were scheduled to vote on the tentative pact over the weekend.

Media sources reported that the new contract requires workers to pay some of their health care costs, and that those contributions could increase in later years if the money does not cover enough of the cost, media outlets reported. In addition, the contract creates new, lower-pay positions for new employees, who will also receive less in benefits.