As the labor dispute between three major U.S. supermarket chains and a union representing picketing workers in Southern California enters its ninth week, negotiations have broken off at the suggestion of a federal mediator.
A central issue in the dispute is health-care concessions that the grocery chains say they need to compete with low-cost operators such as Wal-Mart. The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents the striking workers, is discussing ways to increase pressure on the supermarket chains and may extend picket lines to other U.S. states and Canada.
See "Grocers, workers break off talks at mediator's request", Chicago Tribune, December 8, 2003