LOS ANGELES — Seven locals of United Food and Commercial Workers Union here said they have set noon on June 21 as the deadline for completion of a new contract, with plans to begin scheduling meetings on June 24 at which they will ask their members to either vote on whatever contract offer is on the table at that time or seek strike authorization. The previous contract expired March 5 and has been extended since then. Negotiators met all five days last week and are scheduled to meet every day this week and next week, although that schedule was set before the union set its deadline, Adena Tessler, an employers’ spokeswoman, told SN. "Union threats of a strike and the setting of arbitrary deadlines do nothing to help the negotiating process," she said. "Negotiating gets done at the bargaining table. On the other hand, we would be delighted to have this settled by June 21." According to Michael Shimpock, a union spokesman, "Union leaders and members have had enough," and union representatives are concerned that unless a deadline is set, negotiations could drag on indefinitely. According to Mario Frias, a Ralphs employee quoted in a union press release, "If we can get contracts on time with Stater Bros. and Gelson's Markets, there is absolutely no reason Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons can't negotiate a fair and timely contract too. If the employers get serious about negotiating a real deal, we should be able to finish this contract [negotiation] by the 21st."
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