The fears of a possible grocery strike were put to rest after the unions representing 65,000 workers and the three major Southern California grocery chains that employ them signed a new, four-year deal.

Neither side would officially disclose terms of the agreement, which took nine days to hammer out, but experts said the pact, reported in Wednesday’s Los Angeles Times, signaled a victory for the unions.

The agreement takes the first steps toward dismantling a much-hated two tier wage system for new hires and veteran employees that the union was forced to accept after a disastrous strike and lockout three and a half years ago.

The deal would give workers their first scheduled raises in five years, increase the top wage rate and in a key concession to the union make all employees eligible to reach it, including new hires, sources told the Times.

The pact still needs to be ratified by the union members at nearly 800 local Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons stores, which is expected to be done by the start of next week.

The contract also would cut the amount of time newly hired workers and their dependants are required to wait to qualify for health insurance to six months. The previous waiting period for new employees was 18 months for new employees and 30 months for their dependents

The settlement ended seven months of negotiations, during which the union threatened a strike numerous times.