Grocery workers expressed relief that after five months of being on strike or locked out they could return to work with a new contract.

Jim Stewart of Vons in Pasadena said the longest grocery strike in U.S. history was worth it.

"We needed to unite and show we were ready to do what it took to get a fair contract," he said, following an end-of-strike Feb. 27 prayer service at Vons in Pasadena organized by L.A. Metro-IAF.

The ratified contract preserves current workers' pay scale and most of their benefits at the expense of significantly reduced wages and benefits for newly hired employees.

Joanne Zaporta of Vons in Pasadena said she worried the new contract might give managers the incentive to reduce the hours of higher paid workers.

Elizabeth Avila, a worker at Ralphs in Alhambra, said that with time off she returned to school to learn English. "I learned this job isn't everything," she said, adding she hopes to pursue studies in social work.

Ramon Guzman, an employee at a Vons in Burbank and a parishioner at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Sun Valley, said the anguish of the strike gave him opportunities to pray with his co-workers each morning as they took up their picket signs.

Missionary of St. Charles Father Antonio Grasso, Holy Rosary associate pastor, said supporting worker justice "is one of the ways to be close to the people. When we believe in something, through prayer and unity we can win."

But Msgr. David O'Connell, chair of L.A. Metro and pastor of St. Michael Church in Los Angeles, said he remained concerned about the "Wal-Martization of America" through wage cuts and fewer benefits for workers for the profit of a few. Supermarket CEOs had pressed for wage and benefit concessions to compete with non-union stores like Wal-Mart.

Father Jarlath Cunnane, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Los Angeles, said the strike raises questions about current American business practice and its impact on the dignity of workers.

"If the only way you can a successful business is to offer low wages and little benefits, we have to seriously re-examine the American business model," he said.

Stewart said he was thankful grocery store customers had observed the picket lines and was ready to welcome them back. "We'll give you the best customer service," he said.