Editor’s note: The Safeway employees union extended the deadline to reach an agreement temporarily averting a strike that was scheduled for Saturday but union officials indicated their membership may still strike on Sunday if negotiations remain unsuccessful. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Safeway employees in Hollister may join a potential strike on Saturday.
The union that represents the employees, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, has announced that its membership, which includes stores in Northern California, authorized the strike.
“The company still refuses to agree to a new contract that provides for meaningful wage increases, necessary benefit funding, and improvements to working conditions that our members deserve,” the union said in a news release.
According to the union, negotiations on a new contract have been ongoing for five months. The union gave Safeway, owned by Albertsons, until midnight on July 25 to reach an agreement or face a strike.
BenitoLink reached out to the union’s president for comment but did not immediately respond.
Safeway is among the major corporate grocery stores in Hollister, including Lucky’s and Nob Hill. Other grocery stores in the city include Hollister Super Market, Grocery Outlet, Lupita’s Supermarket, Dollar General, La Vina Produce, Bertuccio’s Market and Village Market.
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