Progress Is Reported in Supermarket Talks

Negotiators for six of Southern California’s major grocery chains continued contract talks Sunday afternoon, hoping to avert a scheduled midnight strike by an estimated 80,000 clerks and butchers.

Bob Bleiweiss, spokesman for nine of the 10 locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers representing the workers, said progress had been made. The dispute involves 800 Albertson’s, Alpha Beta, Lucky, Ralphs, Stater Bros. and Vons supermarkets between San Luis Obispo and San Diego.

Supermarket officials were not available for comment.

Negotiators have been meeting since June 18, and a federal mediator was called in last week. Talks have continued off and on throughout the weekend.

Union negotiators received strike authorization from their members last week, when 96.9% of the clerks and 98.3% of the butchers rejected earlier industry contract proposals.

Union officials have said the possibility of a strike is remote, but they expressed concern about a recent wave of industry mergers, acquisitions and takeover attempts that have left several of the chains operating in heavy debt.

Other issues include health-care costs, a grocers’ proposal to allow outside vendors to do stocking and inventory, a union proposal to raise the guaranteed number of hours per week for part-time workers and another industry proposal to reduce pension contributions for entry-level clerks and add the money to their salaries.

The 73,000 supermarket clerks are paid between $4 and $13.05 an hour. About 7,000 meat cutters earn from $9.31 to $14.33 an hour.