Overview

• The extension pauses a planned walkout by roughly 25,000 Safeway workers across Northern and Central California that was set to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
• Union leaders from UFCW Locals 5, 8-Golden State and 648 are pressing for higher wages, enhanced healthcare and pension funding, and stronger scheduling protections.
• Safeway has posted flyers offering over $27 an hour for temporary staff as a contingency measure to keep stores running if talks collapse.
• Bargaining under a federal mediator has been underway since March, with negotiators holding sessions around the clock this week.
• No new deadline has been announced and union members remain mobilized with picket lines ready should negotiations stall again