The region's main labor organization today will urge San Diegans to respect picket lines in case grocery workers go on strike.
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council said a job action would involve 10,000 supermarket employees. The council's Evan McLaughlin said the AFL-CIO has sanctioned a possible strike.
California's chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers are negotiating new contracts with Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons stores, and workers voted in April to authorize their leaders to call a strike, if necessary.
UFCW spokeswoman Ellen Anreder said negotiations are continuing, but a federal mediator has banned the two sides from giving further information to reporters.
