SAN DIEGO -- The supermarket strike entered its third day today with no indication that contract negotiations will resume any time soon, 10News reported.

Video

Picketers Protest Outside Grocery Stores DISCUSS: Share Your Thoughts

The strike affects some 70,000 workers employed at nearly 900 Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons stores throughout Southern California.

The three companies are believed to represent 60 percent of the region's grocery stores, from the Mexican border to the Nevada and Arizona lines, and Bishop in the north.

The supermarket clerks, who had not gone out on strike since 1978, were getting support from Teamster drivers, who are bringing their rigs up to the picket lines but leaving them for managers or non-union workers to back into the loading docks.

"We all have families ... house payments, you name it, we're here and we're fighting for a purpose. All of these employees -- we're all a family. And, our customers are our family, too. So, you know, it means a lot. It's just not fair," said Cathy Legrasso, a striking employee.

A United Food and Commercial Workers International Union representative said 21,000 Vons employees are on strike, and 49,000 workers at Ralphs and Albertsons are locked out by management.

Representatives for the grocery chains said workers are being asked to pay a small portion of their health benefit costs -- a health premium of $20 a month for singles and $60 a month for families. But the union said the companies want to cut health care benefits by half.

The union also said the companies want to reduce Sunday pay from time-and-a-half to regular pay and holiday pay from triple-time to time-and-a-half.

"First of all, as a business woman, what I think is with my company, I had to take away their health insurance completely. As a small business from 9-11, I've lost $200,000, so I can understand the business's viewpoint also," said, Casey Hutter, a business owner.

"We just want to get a fair share," said Jack Butler of the UFCW. "We want fair wages and our benefits intact."

In addition, the companies are seeking a temporary wage freeze and the right to hire new employees for less money. No new contract talks are scheduled.

Poll: Nearly Half Of Shoppers Changing Habits

According to a 10News/Survey USA poll, nearly half of San Diego County residents are changing their shopping habits because of the strike.

Forty-seven percent of the people asked said the strike will cause them to stop shopping at Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons. Forty-eight percent said the picketing will not keep them from the stores and 4 percent are not sure.

When it comes to assigning blame for the work stoppage, 48 percent of San Diegans look to the supermarket companies. One-third said union workers are most responsible and 12 percent put the blame elsewhere. Six percent are not sure who to blame.

Grocery Clerks Strike In 3 More States

Workers at Kroger grocery stores in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky are also on strike.

More than 2,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers union approved the strike Monday after rejecting the company's contract offer. The union president said the proposal doesn't give clerks enough money to pay for their benefits. He said Kroger needs to better provide for workers' families.

The strike comes two days after Kroger clerks walked off the job in Southern California. Replacement workers were hired there.

A Kroger spokesman said only the stores' pharmacies will stay open. More than 36 of the stores affected are in West Virginia. Five are in Ohio and two are in Kentucky. Kroger is West Virginia's fourth-largest employer, with about 5,100 workers statewide.

Alternative Shopping Locations

COSTCO
4605 Morena Blvd.; 650 Gateway Center Dr., San Diego
725 Center Drive, San Diego
12350 Carmel Mt. Road, San Diego, CA
951 Palomar Airport, San Carlsbad, Calif.
101 Town Center Pkwy., Santee, Calif
1144 Broadway; 895 E. H St., Chula Vista, Calif
1755 Hacienda Drive, Vista, Calif

FOOD 4 LESS
500 Hacienda Drive, Vista, Calif.
7420 Broadway, Lemon Grove, Calif.
7730 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego
644 N Broadway, Escondido, Calif.
1320 E 30th St., National City, Calif.
4995 Shawline Street, San Diego
9430 Cuyamaca, Santee, CA
5975 University Ave., San Diego
444 Broadway El Cajon, Calif.
312 Euclid Ave., San Diego
2420 N. Cottonwood Drive, El Centro, Calif.
660 Palomar St., Chula, Vista, Calif.
109 W. Birch, Calexico, Calif.

KEIL MARKET
3015 Clairemont Drive, San Diego
7403 Jackson Drive, San Diego

RITE AID
4348 Bonita Road, Bonita, Calif.
740 Otay Lakes Road, 907, Chula Vista, Calif.
507 Telegraph Canyon Road, Chula Vista, Calif.
1325 Third Ave., Chula Vista, Calif.
2230 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, Calif.
7224 Broadway, Lemon Grove, Calif.
661 Sweetwater Road, Spring Valley, Calif.
955 Tamarack Ave., Carlsbad, Calif.
7100 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, Calif.
2516 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, Calif.
1135 Avocado Blvd., El Cajon, Calif.
400 N 2nd St., El Cajon, Calif.
415 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, Calif.
315 West Washington, Escondido, Calif.
1855 Centre City Pkwy.S, Escondido, Calif.
1331 South Mission Road, Fallbrook, Calif.
9532 Winter Gardens Blvd., Lakeside, Calif.
1201 So Coast Hwy., Oceanside, Calif.
3813 Plaza Drive, Oceanside, Calif.
463 College Blvd., Oceanside, Calif.
12666 Poway Road, Poway, Calif.
1670 Main St., Ramona, Calif.
121 S. Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Calif.
9759 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, Calif.
1363 E. Vista Way, Vista, Calif.
427 "C" Street, San Diego
535 Robinson Ave., San Diego
3959 30 th St., San Diego
1735 Euclid Ave., San Diego
4840 Niagara Ave., San Diego
6939 Linda Vista Road, San Diego
3506 National Ave., San Diego
6405 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego
3650 Adams Ave., San Diego
5270 Balboa Ave., San Diego
3081-B Clairemont Drive, San Diego
836 Orange Ave., Coronado, Calif.
8694 Lake Murray Blvd., San Diego
6505 Mission Gorge, San Diego
4077 Governor Drive, San Diego
10631 Tierrasanta Blvd., San Diego
8985 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego
11845 Carmel Mtn. Road, San Diego
13167 Black Mtn. Road, San Diego
3515 Del Mar Heights Road, San Diego
1854 Coronado Ave., San Diego
1665 Alpine Blvd., Alpine, Calif.

SAV-ON
555 Broadway Suite 1054, Chula Vista, Calif.
3151 University Ave., San Diego
3331 Rosecrans Blvd., San Diego
1656 Garnet Ave., San Diego
7393 Jackson Drive, San Diego
683 Loma Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, Calif.
318 W El Norte Pkwy., Escondido, Calif.

STATER BROS.
635 N Broadway, Escondido, Calif.
3770 Mission Ave., Oceanside, Calif.
2170 Vista Way, Oceanside, Calif.
1330 E. Mission Road, San Marcos, Calif.
780 Sycamore Ave., Vista, Calif.
1451 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista, Calif.
1048 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas, Calif.
13589 Poway Road, Poway, Calif.
1674 Main Street, Ramona, Calif.
9909 Carmel Mtn. Road, San Diego

STATER SUPER RX
2470 Vista Way, Oceanside, Calif.
1048 N El Camino Real, Encinitas, Calif.
13589 Poway Road, Poway, Calif.

SUPER SAVER
1301 E. Vista Way, Vista, Calif.
350 W San Ysidro Blvd., San Ysidro, Calif.