Northern California's major supermarket chains agreed to another contract extension late Thursday with their union, meaning bargaining will go on for at least several more weeks.
Raley's agreed to extend the contract with the United Food and Commercial Workers union until Jan. 24 for its Raley's and Nob Hill stores. Raley's Bel Air subsidiary extended the contract to March 24. A Raley's spokesman didn't have an immediate explanation for why the dates are being staggered.
Safeway and Save Mart extended their UFCW contracts until Feb. 25, said Ellen Anreder, a spokeswoman for the union.
The union and the grocers have been negotiating since September and have extended the contract four times. The negotiations cover much of Northern California and include three UFCW locals, including Roseville's massive Local 8.
The grocers, trying to wrestle with increasing competition from non-union rivals such as Walmart, are seeking an array of contract concessions, particularly on the cost of health care.
In a newsletter posted Thursday on a UFCW Local 8 website, president Jacques Loveall said the grocers are seeking "massive health care rollbacks."
The grocers have acknowledged they want to reduce costs but haven't publicly disclosed specifics.
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