US retailer Save Mart is to hold talks with union officials in a bid to resolve a dispute over cuts being made to staff salaries and health care.
Save Mart's offer for discussions follow a union vote in which a majority of members backed strike action at the retailer, which has stores in northern California and northern Nevada.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 5 said yesterday (3 July) said it had been contacted by Save Mart with an offer to resume negotiations with the assistance of a federal mediator. However, the union has set a deadline for talks to be complete by 10 July.
The union vote saw 94% of its Lucky/Save Mart members had voted in favour of a strike.
Gocery and department store workers in northern California have been rallying for some months in protest against cuts being made to wages and health care.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 5 has organised the protest as it continues its efforts to stop companies, including Safeway Inc and Raley's from reducing terms and conditions for workers. Members in Local 5's grocery division have been trying to come to reach an agreement with their employers over wages and benefits since their contract expired in October.
Save Mart could not be immediately reached for comment.
