The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is currently involved in helping to mediate labor talks between 62,000 unionized food industry workers and major American supermarket chains.  At stake is the possibility of a strike such as the one that hit Southern California nearly a decade ago.  That dispute lasted almost 150 days and cost the supermarket industry over a billion dollars of profit.

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service: Invited to Help

Mediation attorneys working for the federal service were invited to help the two sides settle their differences.  The supermarket chains involved in the dispute with workers include Ralphs Grocery Company, Albertsons, and Vons Company Incorporated.  Workers' contracts expired as of this past March and little progress has been made in agreeing to an extension or new terms.  Already the AFL-CIO affiliated unions in Southern California, including those in the San Diego area, have told their negotiators to call a strike if one is deemed needed. 

A strike would potentially affect over 150 stores across Southern California and could cause consumers to do even more of their food shopping at non-supermarket stores that carry food.  The practice is becoming increasingly common as discount stores such as Target, Costco, Wal-Mart, and dollar stores offer a wide variety of foodstuffs as well as other merchandise.  No longer are supermarkets the only store of choice for Americans shopping for food.

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