Raley's, union reps spend second day bargaining
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Officials with supermarket chain Raley's and union representatives spent a second day back at the bargaining table, but late Monday there was no word of any possible progress in ending a strike.
Raley's and United Food and Commercial Workers union resumed talks Sunday after union workers walked off the job the previous Sunday.
The strike is the first strike in the 77-year-history of the West Sacramento-based chain.
Both sides are at odds over wages and benefits, including Raley's proposal to eliminate health care benefits for retirees eligible for Medicare.
Raley's officials say they need to cut costs in the face of competition from nonunionized companies, but union officials say the company has been bargaining in bad faith since contract negotiations began.
