By Julia M. Scott
LA Daily News
July 3, 2007
Grocery negotiations recessed for the July Fourth holiday but workers said they would start making picket signs and stocking food banks in case of a strike, officials announced Tuesday.
Talks between Vons, Ralphs, and Albertson's and the United Food and Commercial Workers union will resume Monday, according to a federal mediator running the discussions.
Workers will prepare for the worst over the break by stockpiling picket signs and food for members at union headquarters across the region.
Employees will also learn what do to if there is a strike, lockout, contract extension or ratification vote.
"We're taking that time to ready ourselves in case they don't go so well next week," said union spokesman Mike Shimpock.
The union should be focusing on negotiations, said Adena Tessler, a spokeswoman for the three markets.
"It's discouraging and unfortunate to see the union focusing their efforts elsewhere," Tessler said. But the fact that the union had not canceled the daily contract extension, which requires 72 hours notice, was a good sign, she added.
Tessler said the slow pace in bargaining was due to the "important and complex issues" at hand.
Some progress on pension and health care has been made in seven consecutive days of negotiations that began after workers overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike June 24.
But hurdles remain on salaries and how to fund health care.
The markets and union have been trying to hammer out a contract since before the previous, three-year agreement expired March 5. Three years ago contract negotiations broke down, leading to a 4 1/2 month strike.
