SEATTLE - A grocery workers' strike at Safeway, QFC, Albertsons and Fred Meyer stores is once again on hold as mediators try to hammer out an agreement for some 16,000 workers.
Both sides decided to extend the deadline for a new contract to July 9.
But sources tell KING 5 News the gap separating the two sides is still large, especially when it comes to health care.
Right now the stores pay 100-percent of employees' health benefits.
And with rising costs - they now want workers to help foot the bill.
"it would literally drive us down into a lower class of income that is totally unacceptable," said QFC worker Robin Olson.
The last time local grocery store workers went on strike was 15 years ago, and it lasted about three months.
Posted by UFCW 227 at June 26, 2004 06:52 PM