California Labor Talks Extended Through March 19

LOS ANGELES -- Contract talks in Southern California will continue at least through March 19, two weeks past last Monday's contract expiration, following a request by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. According to a spokesman for the FMCS, mediator Linda Gonzalez asked Supervalu, Kroger and Safeway and each of the seven locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union to extend their talks, and all parties agreed to talk through midnight on March 19. An FMCS spokesman told SN it "remains to be determined" what happens after that date. "We would hope there would be an agreement by then," he said. "But whatever happens next will be up to the parties involved." -- Elliot Zwiebach