Possible Grocery Strike Delayed; Talks Extended

UPDATE 12:15 p.m. Sept. 19: A tentative agreement was reached that will ward off the grocery strike for now, it was announced at about 11:30 a.m. this morning.

ORIGINAL POST Sept. 18: A 7:10 p.m. deadline passed Sunday, but grocery workers at the Big Three chains were still on the job as negotiators on a new labor deal continued working into the night, delaying a possible Southern California strike.

“As long as there’s progress being made we'll stay at the table,” Mike Shimpock, a spokesman for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 in Los Angeles, . “Our top priority is to get a negotiated agreement. We don’t want to go on strike and really we shouldn’t have to because these companies make enough money.”

“Our workers will stay on the job until at least midnight, and possibly longer if negotiations are moving ahead,” Shimpock said, speaking to The Associated Press.

Spokeswoman Kendra Doyel of Ralphs said at 7:15 p.m. that talks will continue, and Albertsons released this statement at 7:25 p.m.:

"Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons are still at the table with the union. Progress is being made, but we do not yet have an agreement. Even though the 72-hour notice period has expired, nothing has changed. The terms of our most recent contract—including wages and benefits—remain in place, and our stores are open to serve customers as they usually are. We are still hopeful that a contract will be reached soon."

In Murrieta, as the original 72-hour strike countdown passed, it was work and shopping as usual just after 8 p.m. for customers and employees at

Many shoppers weren't aware of the pending strike.

Murrieta resident Jesus Zuniga wasn't. Zuniga said he doesn't shop at the Ralphs location that often, but tonight he was picking up milk because it was on sale, and that the strike wouldn't affect him much.

Ken, who didn't want his last name published, said he's shopped at the Ralphs location for seven years, mainly because it is close to his home.

He wasn't aware of the possible strike, but said health care costs--which is why union workers may strike--are "disgraceful" in the U.S.

Though Ken is retired now and receives social security, he said throughout his professional career he never paid for health care coverage through his employers.

"I think it's disgraceful to have to pay for health care," Ken said. "I will still shop here, though."

Ken and others customers may not have the choice to shop there or at other Ralphs, Vons or Albertsons locations.

Albertsons and Ralphs have both stated they will close all or most of their Southern California stores in the event of a strike. Albertsons said it thinks up to 100 stores could close for some or all of a strike. Ralphs said it would initially close all of its stores if a strike is called.

Ralphs told employees in a statement Sunday, "During a strike, it is difficult to create a good shopping experience for our customers and a good working environment for associates. We will evaluate reopening them on a case by case basis as things progress.

"The union knows that you will not receive a paycheck from the company while on strike. Since health and welfare and pension contributions are made based on hours worked, these contributions would also stop while on strike."

Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons grocery store workers in Southern California went on strike for 141 days in 2003-04 after contract negotiations stalled primarily over healthcare issues.

Health care benefits again have been the sticking point between negotiators in the latest talks. Union officials said the health care proposal by the supermarket chains would bankrupt benefits by the end of 2012, potentially eliminating all health care benefits for grocery workers.

In a statement released earlier Sunday, Vons said about half of its employees make no weekly contribution to their health benefits and the others pay $7 a month for individual coverage and $15 for full family coverage.

The company has proposed that all employees pay $9 for individual and $24 for family coverage, the Vons statement said.

Albertsons said in a statement over the weekend that it learned from the 2003-04 labor dispute that it doesn’t make good business sense to operate all of its stores during a strike.

Both sides in June announced a tentative agreement on pension benefits and employers’ contributions that fund those benefits. Grocery workers have been working under the terms of a contract that was extended after it expired in March.

"The unions know our associates have never made up for the financial loss caused by the strike," Ralphs told employees. 

"We hope the union will consider these factors seriously. The only way to reach an agreement is at the bargaining table. If you don't want to go on strike, let your union know immediately."

Sandy Williams of Murrieta said she shops at Stater Bros., which is where union workers have been told to shop if the strike occurs.

Williams was at Ralphs in Murrieta helping her mother shop, but said she would not cross a picket line should the strike happen.

Maggie Avants in Murrieta, Kurt Orzeck in Santa Monica, and Paul Chavez in Marina del Rey contributed to this report.