SAN DIEGO -- Union representatives and executives of three supermarket chains operating in San Diego continued to meet with a federal mediator Saturday attempting to avert a strike that could come at any time, reported 10News.

No progress was being made, Ellen Anreder of the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union said. No time or target has been set for the strike, she said.

Union members authorized a work stoppage after a vote of over 97 percent to reject the contract offer from Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons, according to officials of the union, which represents an estimated 70,000 employees throughout the Southland and beyond.

Mickey Kasparian, president of San Diego County Local 135, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that a walkout would hardly alienate most supermarket customers, who he said have pledged by the thousands not to cross union picket lines.

San Diego "might not be a pro-union city" but "many shoppers are telling our members,`You've been our clerk for six years, eight years and we support you,"' he told the newspaper.

Some of the main issues are wages, whether "new hires" would work for less than other employees under a "two-tier" system, and whether employees will have to take on more of the financial burden of health care costs.

The companies are also demanding that employees pay $1,300 a year toward health premiums, as well as bigger deductibles and higher co-payments for doctor visits and prescription drugs, said union official Ellen Anreder.

Health care cuts, including elimination of dental, vision and well-baby plans, appeared to be the sticking point with many workers, who currently get free medical care.

Representatives of Safeway Inc., the parent of Vons and Pavilions; Kroger Co., parent of Ralphs; and Albertsons Inc. executives have said the employers are under pressure to reduce costs to compete with Wal-Mart and other "supercenters."

If a strike is authorized, union leaders will decide which of the companies will be targeted, Anreder said.

Management executives have vowed to keep their stores open during a strike by using replacement workers. Replacement workers at Vons are already undergoing training but will not be deployed unless there is a strike, company representative Sandra Calderon said.

The last supermarket strike in the region was about 24 years ago and lasted five days. Another walkout in 1969 over benefits lasted 18 days.