Three rival supermarket chains involved in labor contract talks with thousands of Southern California employees say they will each lock out workers if any of the chains becomes the target of a strike.
The move by Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons follows a vote last week by Albertsons employees to give union leaders the authority to call a strike.
Under the markets' pact, if the union orders a selective strike against one of the chains, the other two would lock out employees within 48 hours. The companies also agreed today to provide financial assistance to chains whose employees walk out.
Adena Tessler, speaking for the supermarkets, says in a statement that none of the three wants a work stoppage but, in her words, "the unions' recent strike authorization and threats of future strike votes must be taken seriously."
Three-year contracts covering 65,000 workers at the chains' 785 stores from San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield south to San Diego expire on Monday. The pact has already been extended twice.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
