Save Mart, UFCW to Meet With Mediator

ROSEVILLE, Calif. — United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 8-Golden State here said it has reached agreement with Save Mart Supermarkets to meet with a federal mediator "to help us close the remaining gaps," Jacques Loveall, president of the local, said in a statement.

Save Mart, based in Modesto, Calif., said it has agreed to a short contract extension while talks continue with a federal mediator present "to help resolve any remaining differences. A labor strike is not beneficial for our company or our associates, and an agreement must be reached quickly."

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According to Loveall, the company and the union have also agreed to a three-point process for reaching a settlement, which includes a hard deadline of July 10. The three-point process, according to the union's website, involves an audit to justify the company's claims of need of financial relief; instruction to accountants and actuaries to establish a projected cost structure for labor costs based on the audit findings; and empowering the union and employer bargaining committees to structure a stabilization agreement and memorandum of agreement and also to allow the union the discretion to design an overall health and welfare plan.

Two other UFCW locals — Local 5 and Local 648, which also represent some Save Mart employees — will be part of the negotiations. Members of Local 5 voted last week to authorize a strike, if necessary, against Save Mart; members of Local 8 have not taken a similar vote. However, they did vote in early June to authorize a strike against Raley's.