Northern Calif. Chains Again Extend Labor Contracts

Three Northern California supermarket chains have agreed to another contract extension with the labor unions that represents their stores’ grocery clerks and butchers.

Raley’s agreed to extend the contract with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 8 until Jan. 24 for its namesake and Nob Hill stores, while its Bel Air subsidiary tendered an agreement that extends its contract to March 24.

Meanwhile, Safeway and Save Mart extended their UFCW contracts until Feb. 25, according to local media reports.

Representatives of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 5 (Western Northern California including the Bay Area), Local 8 (Central and Eastern Northern California) and Local 648 (San Francisco Clerks) have been in talks with the grocers for the past several months over wages and medical costs, and the impact of non-union competition.