Hundreds march for grocery workers' rights

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A mass turnout is expected for a march in support of grocery workers.

Hundreds of grocery workers, clergy and other supporters will march from Vons in Hollywood to Albertsons in Los Feliz Tuesday morning.

They're rallying against drastic health care cuts and are demanding a fair, timely contract. They will also deliver letters to management signed by over 400 local clergy.

The Southern California grocery contract expired over three months ago.

Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons said in a joint statement late Friday that the companies and the United Food and Commercial Workers have agreed on the employers' contributions to pension benefits.

Local 770 President Rick Icaza says the union "compromised" on the pension but added that the two sides remain far apart on the issue of employee contributions to health care costs, the major sticking point in the negotiations.

A four-month strike and lockout that began in 2003 cost Ralphs and other grocery chains an estimated $2 billion.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

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