Mayo Clinic union food service employees with the Service Employees International Union announced on Tuesday they approved a five-year contract with Morrison Healthcare.

The contract with the Atlanta-based food service vendor includes initial wage increases between 2.5 percent and 42 percent, 2.5 percent wage increases each year for existing employees and 2 percent increases to start rates each year, according to a press release.

The agreement also includes an increase in paid time off and holiday pay, full union health insurance for part- and full-time members, improved dental coverage, 50 cents per hour in defined contribution to 401K accounts paid by the employer, overtime pay after eight hours, requirements for defined shift times and weekend shift differentials, as well as increased life insurance, short-term disability options and an improved bereavement leave policy.

“The contract achieved the goals food service workers had going into bargaining around protecting worker standards — namely winning union insurance, a union retirement plan and preserving and advancing wage rates,” the press release states.

According to Mayo Clinic, the agreement is part of Mayo’s focus.

“Our focus remains on ensuring that Mayo patients and visitors receive the best possible food service experience, and we continue to work closely with Morrison on a seamless transition for employees, patients and visitors,” according to a statement from the hospital. “We cannot comment on the terms of the deal between Morrison Healthcare and the unions that represent Morrison food service workers at Mayo Clinic, as we were not involved in the negotiations between Morrison and its employees and have not seen the agreement.”

Jason Predmore, a 16-year food service worker at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, said he was pleased the contract was approved.

“We hope this win shows all Mayo employees that by standing together, positive changes can happen,” he said. “We demanded respect, and it feels good to know we have a strong contract moving forward. We went from lots of concerns when we heard the news, when things were very bleak and stressful, to joining the union and winning this first great contract. This gives our families the stability we need.”

Contract negotiations began in March. Mayo Clinic announced its tentative decision June 29, 2016, to transition its food and nutrition services from Sodexo to Morrison Healthcare. The change impacted 56 Mayo employees in Albert Lea and Austin who were managed by Sodexo.

After a long process, official complaints between Mayo Clinic and the employees were resolved after union members in January approved Mayo’s proposal that provided a financial bridge through the end of this year. The bridge — worth between $3 million and $4.5 million — was provided in exchange for SEIU dropping its grievance and complaint that was filed last fall against Mayo.