Grocery stores and union representatives were talking again on Monday, but a source close to the talks says the union is frustrated and weighing possible strike action. Jesse Russell reports:

By Jesse Russell

After five days to cool off, representatives of Albertson’s, Ralph’s, Vons and the United Food and Commercial Workers all sat down to continue slow going contract negotiations. Prior to the break union members had given UFCW leadership permission to call a strike and a source close to the talks says the union is “done talking” and is now apprehensively considering the strike option. The Southern California grocery strike and lockouts of 2003 lasted nearly five months and workers went months without pay. The supermarkets claim to have lost a billion dollars in sales and the union ended up meeting nearly all of the chains’ demands. A great deal of blame was hoisted onto the AFL-CIO who allegedly failed to mobilize a substantial solidarity effort and pushed UFCW to call off the strike due to approaching elections. At the crux of the current negotiations is a wage proposal that only includes raises for the top pay scale and the introduction of a third tier of workers that would earn less than the second tier workers. Union officials have also said the chains are risking bankruptcy of the union’s healthcare trust fund by proposing a reduction in contributions. The union must give a 72-hour notice before strike lines can go up and union members are reportedly already at work making up picket signs and enlisting captains.