25,000 Safeway employees could go on strike Sunday if deal isn't reached, union says

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- There's a new strike deadline looming involving thousands of Safeway employees across the Bay Area.

On Saturday, the union representing grocery workers now says they will strike at midnight if a contract agreement isn't reached. The union agreed to extend the deadline past midnight on Friday to allow negotiations to continue.

Safeway management and representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers union met behind closed doors again Saturday working toward negotiating an agreement which avoids a work stoppage involving about 25,000 Safeway employees. A federal mediator was present. Friday's strike deadline was extended after the union said progress was being made in contract talks.

UFCW posted on X that it informed the company "if no deal is reached by midnight, the union will be on strike."

A strike could impact more than 100 Safeway stores from Bakersfield to the Oregon border. For the past five months, labor unions representing grocery employees have been negotiating with Safeway's parent company Albertsons for improvements in wages, scheduling, health care and pension funds.

RELATED: 25,000 CA Safeway workers could strike at midnight; no contract agreement yet

A strike deadline is approaching for upwards of 25,000 Safeway employees across California, who could be off the job by Friday at midnight.

"I figured they might as well keep up with the rest of the world. Cost of living is rising like crazy. We can hardly keep up, so no surprise," said Safeway shopper Blake Duncan.

"I won't cross a picket line. I always support workers," said Safeway shopper Rovina Salinas.

In anticipation of a strike, Safeway stores posted signs looking for temporary replacement workers, paying $27 an hour.

In a statement Safeway said in part: "We are hopeful a resolution will be reached soon, as we have in other parts of the country through successful collaboration with our union partners to secure agreements that recognize and reward our dedicated associates while supporting the company's ongoing growth."

Stay with ABC7 News for the latest details on this developing story.