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100 Rally at Chula Vista Albertsons in Possible Strike Precursor

About 100 grocery union workers rallied at an Albertsons parking lot in Chula Vista today. They want more affordable health care and a wage increase. KPBS reporter Nicole Lozare has more.

100 Rally at Chula Vista Albertsons in Possible Strike Precursor

About 100 grocery union workers rallied at an Albertsons parking lot in Chula Vista today. They want more affordable health care and a wage increase. KPBS reporter Nicole Lozare has more.

Mark Booth has been getting ready for this battle for three years now.

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The Albertsons checker put away a little bit of money each month. Now he's ready to strike -- for as long as he can afford it.

Booth : I'm concerned for some of my co-workers, especially the people who were hired in the last three years, who make so little money they just can't afford to be on the line for very long -- if there is a picket line.

Union workers say they will discuss the possibility of a strike if employers don't sign their contract by noon on Thursday. They want more affordable health care and a wage increase.

The contract talks affect some 65,000 grocery workers at Vons, Ralph's and Albertson's stores in Southern California.

The last negotiation three years ago resulted in a bitter five-month-long strike.

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Nicole Lozare, KPBS News.