ROSEVILLE, Calif. — United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 8-Golden State here said it has reached agreement with Save Mart Supermarkets to meet with a federal mediator "to help us close the remaining gaps," Jacques Loveall, president of the local, said in a statement.
Save Mart, based in Modesto, Calif., said it has agreed to a short contract extension while talks continue with a federal mediator present "to help resolve any remaining differences. A labor strike is not beneficial for our company or our associates, and an agreement must be reached quickly."
Save Mart Cuts Worker Salaries
According to Loveall, the company and the union have also agreed to a three-point process for reaching a settlement, which includes a hard deadline of July 10. The three-point process, according to the union's website, involves an audit to justify the company's claims of need of financial relief; instruction to accountants and actuaries to establish a projected cost structure for labor costs based on the audit findings; and empowering the union and employer bargaining committees to structure a stabilization agreement and memorandum of agreement and also to allow the union the discretion to design an overall health and welfare plan.
Two other UFCW locals — Local 5 and Local 648, which also represent some Save Mart employees — will be part of the negotiations. Members of Local 5 voted last week to authorize a strike, if necessary, against Save Mart; members of Local 8 have not taken a similar vote. However, they did vote in early June to authorize a strike against Raley's.
