Amid rising tensions over pay and benefits, Northern California's major supermarket chains and their union have agreed to another contract extension, this one to Dec. 15.

The contract was supposed to expire tonight between the United Food and Commercial Workers and Raley's, Safeway and Save Mart. The contract originally expired Oct. 8 and has now been extended three times.

The grocery chains are trying to shave costs as they wrestle with a surge in competition from non-union rivals such as Wal-Mart.

"We are hearing more and more demands from the employers for rollbacks and takeaways," said Jacques Loveall, president of UFCW 8-Golden State, in a prepared statement.

Loveall's local, based in Roseville, is bargaining alongside two Bay Area locals. Together they represent about 60,000 workers.

By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 - 9:24 am

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/19/4066660/northern-california-grocery-chains.html#ixzz1eB9KDrQ6