Talks between a union representing tens of thousands of striking grocery workers and three U.S. supermarket chains broke down late Sunday, and no new talks are scheduled, the three companies said in a statement early on Monday.
Albertsons, Safeway Inc.'s Vons and Kroger Co.'s Ralphs have been locked in a labor dispute with with some 70,000 workers who have gone on strike or have been locked out of their jobs at nearly 900 supermarkets across Southern California.
"Despite the strike now entering its ninth week, the companies have still not received a comprehensive offer, in any form, from the union," the grocery chains said in a statement released just after midnight.
A representative of the labor union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, could not immediately be reached. The involved parties have been meeting with a federal mediator since Dec. 2.
Shares of all three companies declined in morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Albertsons fell 39 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $19.92, while Safeway declined 33 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $19.63. Kroger dipped 5 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $17.65.
Last week, Albertsons disclosed that the strike had taken a toll on its profit, which declined a larger-than-expected 50 percent in the three months ending Oct. 30.