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Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 in Southern California have approved a strike authorization with about a 90% vote. The local represents around 20,000 workers who work in grocery stores. Six other locals are also voting on strike authorization, and the president of Local 770 says that he believes they will also vote yes. The contract between the union and the stores expired on March 6, and while the union says that they do not want a strike any more than the stores do, they need leverage to bargain with. The stores have proposed lowering health care benefits, removing overtime and increasing commuting time for workers. Both sides say that they hope to reach an agreement without a strike. A previous strike in 2003 cost the stores an estimated $2 billion.