UPDATE: Redlands Grocery Workers Union Reaches Agreement

12:15 p.m. Representatives with Alberstons, Ralphs and Vons have issued statements regarding the tentative agreement:

“We are pleased to have reached a tentative settlement agreement with the union that continues to preserve good wages, secure pensions and access to quality, affordable health care – while allowing us to be competitive in the marketplace. We appreciate the hard work, support and patience that everyone has shown during the past seven months, and particularly the past few weeks. Details of the tentative agreement were not made public pending ratification.”

11:45 a.m. UPDATE: Several news organizations are reporting that a tentative agreement has been reached between the grocery workers union and representatives from Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons. More details as they come in.

10:30 A.M. UPDATE: Negotiations continued overnight to avert a grocery worker strike that would affect workers from Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons.

Rick Icaza, the president of the union representing Southern California grocery workers, said in a statement that negotiations without a strike will continue "as long as we feel progress is being made towards a fair, equitable agreement. "We must preserve good jobs in our community, and stand up for all workers struggling in this economy. If we can do that by negotiating a fair deal that shows respect for our members, we will. But we will not hesitate to stand up for ourselves if talks stall again. Our hope is to reach a conclusion to these talks that allows our members to preserve their jobs, keep our employers profitable and show our appreciation to our customers for their continued support.''

One of the main sticking point remains health care coverage, according to Todd Conger, a spokesman for United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 324 in Buena Park. Conger said the big three stores are trying to turn grocery jobs into "Burger King jobs."

"It's about them absolutely gutting the health insurance plans and increasing the premiums and claiming the issue is over a couple of dollars,'' Conger said in published reports.

END UPDATE

No breakthroughs were reported as round-the-clock negotiations passed midnight, well past a 7:10 p.m. strike deadline set by the union representing 62,000 grocery store clerks in Southern California.

Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons officials continued to meet with the workers' representatives at an undisclosed location, while union stewards spent the day passing out picket signs.

No grocery chain official would comment, but a union spokesman said no progress had been made today. The Inland Empire union, which covers Redlands and Loma Linda, has advised its members that, "negotiations are continuing at this time since serving the 72 hour notice," through its website.

"Please continue to work until you hear from your union representative or your employer does not allow you to work (Lock out)," the statement continued.

Redlands has a Vons, at 522 Orange St., and an Albertsons at 450 E. Cypress Ave.

Clerks at a pair of Ralphs and Vons supermarkets in Santa Monica today said both chains had not reduced their deliveries of fresh baked goods, produce, milk and meat to the stores. The clerks, who did not want their names publicized, said the fresh deliveries of perishables may indicate that management at the Kroger's and Safeway chains, which own the grocery brands, are not anticipating closing their stores.

"We've heard that, and I think that does mean something," said union
spokesman Mike Shimpock. "And if they start to move in the negotiations, we intend to stay at the table'' and not call a strike, he said.

Union locals from Santa Maria to the Mexican border served notice at
7:10 p.m. Thursday that workers would walk off their jobs in exactly 72 hours - originally Sunday at 7:10 p.m. - if they do not see movement from the national chains.

Health insurance benefits are a major point of contention, with the
company offering an insurance package that union officials say would run out of money in 16 months. Under the most recent offer, workers would pay about $36 per month for individual health insurance, or $92 per month for family coverage, but the company contribution to that share has not been disclosed.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa urged grocery workers and supermarkets to negotiate agreement to avoid a strike.

"As Mayor, I've had to make hard decisions during these tough economic times to close a $1.5 billion deficit," Villaraigosa said in a statement. "We have laid off a record 4,600 employees. This year, fortunately, we were able to avoid layoffs and furloughs by negotiating a new agreement with out unions. Through their partnership and leadership, employees agreed to pay more for health care to stay on the job. And we agreed to find other ways to save money
and jobs."

Negotiators are also reportedly far apart on pay rates.

"They're sitting on their piles of cash, and they're throwing us
quarters," Shimpock told City News Service. The union claims the three chains made $3 billion in profits last year, and distributed $500 million to their shareholders.

All three chains continued to solicit replacement workers today. Ralphs
has said it would close its stores if a strike is closed, but Vons has not made it clear if it would try to keep stores open with replacement workers and management.

A spokeswoman from Albertsons today clarified an earlier statement that the Minnesota-based chain might close up to 100 stores in the event of a strike. Christie Ly told CNS that the amount of stores closed would depend on how Albertsons management can manage to ''spread our resources to maintain a high level of customer service.

Unions scheduled a 7:30 p.m. candlelight vigil tonight outside a Vons
Pavilion's store in Beverly Hills. "We will gather and try to show the market corporations their moral obligation to bring this conflict to a fair resolution," said Rick Icaza, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770.

During a 141-day lockout in 2003-04, the stores hired temporary
workers, and some of the chains were fined for rehiring regular employees under aliases. The replacement workers all lost their jobs when a new contract was signed, and the lockout cost the stores an estimated $1.5 billion.

Story by Hans Laetz, City News Service