Grocers, union closing gap in talks

The union representing 65,000 Southern California grocery workers and the three largest supermarket chains in the region continued to close the gap in their contract negotiations Sunday.

In marathon bargaining sessions over much of the weekend, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons had settled multiple contract issues and were zeroing in on wage increases.

The talks were expected to continue late Sunday night, and an agreement could be reached as soon as today.

-- Jerry Hirsch