*Socal supermarkets offer health care proposal

As grocery workers prepare for another strike authorization vote, the three major chains - Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons - are presenting a plan that they say "would significantly increase their contributions to the health care fund during the life of the contract." The statement also lays out various benefits that the chains say would be covered. I'll skip the specifics, because unless you're at the negotiating table there's no way to assess them in context. No word yet from the United Food and Commercial Workers. The two sides have a tentative agreement on pensions, but still no deal on wages, health care, and workplace rules. With an unemployment rate of about 12 percent, this would not be a great time to strike, and that might explain why the union has held on for so many months. The current contract expired in March.

*Update: Union spokesman Mike Shimpock called the proposal a "warmed over" version of a previous proposal. He also accused the grocers of trying to negotiate in the press. (San Gabriel Valley Tribune)