Food Store Labor Talks Continue

Negotiators for 11 major Southern California supermarket chains negotiated into the night Friday with representatives of union meat cutters, warehousemen and drivers, hoping to avert a strike that could begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday. A representative of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service supervised the talks.

A spokesman for the Food Employers Council, which represents the supermarkets, said Friday afternoon that “we are far apart” on three major issues with the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents 10,000 meat cutters. The markets’ contract with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents 12,000 drivers, warehousemen and clerical workers, expired Sept. 8, and that union also is poised to strike.

Locals of both unions will meet Sunday to present management’s final offer to their members.

Supermarket chains involved are Albertsons, Alpha Beta, Boys, Foods Co., Hughes, Lucky, Pioneer, Ralphs, Safeway, Stater Bros. and Vons.