Southern California supermarkets, union reach tentative deal

Two major Southern California grocery chains have reached a tentative deal on a labor contract that could avert a strike by some 47,000 supermarket workers.

The Los Angeles Times reports Albertsons and Ralphs say they reached the agreement yesterday with the seven locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers.

Albertsons owns Vons and Pavilions stores. Ralphs is a division of Kroger.

The Times says the union confirmed the proposed deal and said its members would start voting today whether to ratify it. Results are expected Thursday. Union leadership is recommending a "yes" vote.

Terms of the tentative contract are withheld until workers could review them.

The employees, who work at 532 stores, had authorized union leaders to call a strike if a contract couldn't be reached.