Countywide : Grocery Store Strike Deadline Is Tonight
Clerks and meat cutters at 41 Ventura County supermarkets are set to go on strike at 7 p.m. today unless a contract dispute is resolved at a final negotiating session scheduled this morning.
Both sides in the talks imposed a news blackout Wednesday, but federal mediator Frank Allen said the 7 p.m. deadline was absolute.
The unions, which have been without a contract since July 31, had planned to strike at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, but leaders postponed a walkout, saying progress was being made.
The unions represent about 80,000 supermarket workers in Southern California.
The unions have said if there is a strike picket lines would be used to discourage deliveries and shopping.
Officials at the five chains affected in the county--Von’s, Ralphs, Lucky, Alpha Beta and Albertson’s--said they have lined up temporary workers for the stores if there is a strike.
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