SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Unionized Safeway employees in Northern California have agreed to delay a pending strike as negotiations with the company continue. The UFCW 8 - Golden State, UFCW Locals 5 and 648 said they were negotiating around the clock with Safeway-Albertsons management to get an agreement for 25,000 union grocery workers.

The union representing about 25,000 Safeway workers in northern and central California let a strike deadline pass Sunday morning -- the second time in as many days -- suggesting that talks were continuing toward a new contract.