http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/6981359.htm
Posted on Fri, Oct. 10, 2003East Bay Biz Buzz: Grocery labor threatens strike
The largest labor union representing Southern California supermarket workers voted to strike against Kroger Co., Albertson's Inc. and Pleasanton-based Safeway Inc. (SWY) after rejecting a final contract offer by the three largest U.S. supermarket companies. Safeway owns Vons stores.
The strike was authorized by 98 percent of the voting members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 770, union spokeswoman Barbara Maynard said. Six other locals will decide by today if they too will vote for a work stoppage, which could begin Saturday.
The grocery chains said they plan to keep their stores open if there's a strike, which would be the first by the union against the supermarket chains in Southern California in 25 years. The proposed contract would shift about $1 billion in health care costs to workers, the union has said. The companies are trying to trim employees' benefits as non-unionized Wal-Mart Stores Inc., prepares to open stores in California that sell groceries.
A mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service plans to hold a meeting Friday between the union and the supermarkets, Maynard said.