Labor union Teamsters ratifies contract at Kroger

(Reuters) -Labor union International Brotherhood of Teamsters said on Monday a new national contract at U.S. grocery chain Kroger Co has been ratified with overwhelming support.

The five-year master agreement covers over 1,500 Kroger workers nationwide and provides significant improvements to wages, benefits and working conditions, the organization said in a statement.

This comes as Kroger looks to complete its $25 billion deal for smaller rival Albertsons Cos Inc.

Teamsters at Kroger voted by an 88% to ratify the contract, the union said, adding for the first time the national negotiating committee included rank-and-file members working in the industry.

(Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Sriraj Kalluvila)