Week 7: Still Striking...

More than 100 picketers gathered to show support for grocery workers Sunday afternoon outside of the Pavilions supermarket in Valencia.

    The strikers were out in full force to put pressure on Safeway Inc. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Burd, who is “holding the hard line” against the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
   Health care coverage has been a main issue in the conflict — which started in October — with Kroger Co., owner of the Ralphs chain; Safeway Inc., which owns Vons and Pavilions; and Albertsons Inc.
    Striking grocery clerks and the three supermarket chains resumed talks Saturday, but there were no indications of a compromise as supermarket officials were barred from commenting about the negotiations.
   Negotiators ended the last round of closed-door talks nearly two weeks ago without reaching an agreement to end the labor dispute that has idled 70,000 Southern California workers.