SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Even after the first deadline was extended, a strike is still possible for 25,000 employees with Safeway, Albertsons and Vons in California who are represented by the union, UFCW 8-Golden State.
Following five months of stalled contract negotiations, the union and company announced a temporary extension of the strike deadline after the federal mediator overseeing talks recommended additional time for bargaining. Union negotiators agreed to delay the strike, originally set to begin at midnight Friday, citing incremental progress toward a tentative agreement members can review and vote on.
In a press release on Saturday, the union stated its workers will strike on Sunday, July 27, at 12:01 a.m. if an agreement is not reached by midnight.
“At the urging of the federal mediator, we continue to meet with Albertsons / Safeway / Vons negotiators. Unfortunately, major gaps remain in wages, healthcare funding, retirement security, and job protections,” said UFCW 8-Golden State President Jacques Loveall.
“We are deeply grateful for the continued support from every community we serve,” Loveall added. “If you encounter a picket line at your local store tomorrow, we respectfully ask you to honor it and shop at a different union store until a fair agreement is reached.”