Save Mart Employees May Hold Strike Vote

Save Mart Supermarkets announced a pay cut for 150 employees in the Sacramento area last week, raising tensions with workers during difficult contract talks. Now, Save Mart employees say they may strike if a new contract agreement is not met this week, according to the Sacramento Bee.

"Nobody wants a strike, but management needs to get serious about the issue of funding health care," Jacques Loveall, president of UFCW Local 8 in Roseville, wrote in a statement. "We understand about the competitive challenges of our Union employers and we have been working with the employers to find workable solutions to the many challenges. But management has to work with us now to get this resolved."

The two sides already face an impasse in current negotiations over health care costs. Also last week on the Local 8 website, Loveall said negotiations had continued without an agreement on workers' benefit pay.  And Save Mart stated weeks ago it had given workers a final offer.

It's becoming the summer of labor discontent in Sacramento.  Last month, Local 8 workers authorized a strike against Raley's after negotiations failed with that supermarket chain, although workers have yet to walk off the job.

leaves Elk Grove with one other store, on Elk Grove-Florin Road.

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Elk Grove residents, should Save Mart workers strike? Where would you shop if they did? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.