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Grocery Workers Train In Case Of Strike

BURBANK (CBS) — Grocery workers gathered in Burbank Sunday to prepare and train picket captains in case negotiations with Southern California's grocery stores continue to languish.

"Our hope is that instead of a strike authorization vote, we have a fair contract offer to ratify," said Rick Icaza, president of the Grocery Workers union local 770. "But in the event the supermarket corporations continue to refuse negotiating a fair deal, we need grocery workers to be prepared to strike."

Grocery workers represented by Local 770 have been without a contract since March 6. The two sides have come to an agreement on pension increases, but remain far apart on health care costs.

Grocery workers have given the stores a deadline of Aug. 19, when they will either vote on a new contract or authorize a strike.

»RELATED STORY: Grocery Workers Join Picket Lines In Front Of 3 Ralphs Stores

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