08:54 PM PDT on Friday, June 25, 2004
By JACK KATZANEK / The Press-Enterprise
The same week 70,000 unionized grocery workers settled their dispute with Southern California's three largest chains last winter, the contract with thousands of Food 4 Less employees expired.
That contract, which expired Feb. 28, has been extended while negotiations continue. But most of the issues that caused the 4½-month strike and lockout between the United Food and Commercial Workers and Vons, Albertsons and Ralphs are prominently on the table during the Food 4 Less talks.
"It seems like Food 4 Less is taking a hard line, just like the other employers were doing," said Joe Duffle, an organizer for San Bernardino-based Local 1167.
Union leaders are increasing the pressure on Food 4 Less and scheduled a series of rallies Friday afternoon, including one at the store in Cathedral City, Duffle said by phone. The union also asked shoppers to sign cards pledging to shop somewhere else if the talks did not advance.
Food 4 Less is owned by Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., which also owns Ralphs. Spokesman Terry O'Neil said negotiations have been ongoing since April, and three sessions were held Thursday.
The next talks are scheduled for July 9, O'Neil said. The break is because of both parties' scheduling conflicts and not because of an impasse, he said.
O'Neil declined to discuss the specific issues. Warehouse grocery Food 4 Less contracts differ somewhat from those at standard supermarkets, but he said the company's goals were similar.
"Every contract has its own separate issues and characteristics and situations," O'Neil said by phone. "But one issue Food 4 Less is looking for is ways to control rising costs to stay competitive."
Neither O'Neil nor Duffle could predict when a contract might be hammered out.
"You always hope for a quick settlement," Duffle said. "But we've decided, and I think the company has too, that we will sit there and negotiate as long as we can. As long as there's dialogue, that's a good thing."
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