Nob Hill Foods Strike Continues

The Nob Hill Foods strike is nearing the end of its first week.

The employee strike affects 7,500 employees at Raley's and Nob Hill stores across northern California, including Scotts Valley. It began Sunday when negotiations between the union and management hit an impasse.

The same union, United Food and Commercial Workers, reached a tentative agreement with Safeway on Thursday, according to the Salinas Californian.

At stake in the Nob Hill/Raley's strike are medical benefits and employees' take-home pay.

In Scotts Valley, picketers have been in front of the Nob Hill store on Mount Hermon Road daily with signs urging customers to support them by shopping elsewhere.

A security guard has been patrolling the parking lot, which often is desserted, and a large sign over one door announces that the store is hiring. Nob Hill has hired more than 500 employees in Northern California to keep its stores open during the strike.

A second sign at the Nob Hill store in Scotts Valley informs customers the store is still open to serve them.