San Luis Obispo, CA -- Negotiators for workers at Southern California's largest grocery chains reached a deal Monday to avoid a repeat of a four-month strike eight years ago that cost the industry $2 billion. Both sides worked through a deadline Sunday and bargained through the night to reach the tentative pact addressing health benefits. Supermarket executives had planned to close hundreds of stores if there had been a strike.

Some 62,000 grocery employees have been working without a contract since March while discussions continued with The Vons Cos.; Ralphs Grocery Co., a subsidiary of The Kroger Co.; and Albertsons, which is owned by Supervalu Inc. The three companies released a joint statement lauding the deal, which they said "continues to preserve good wages, secure pensions and access to quality, affordable health care — while allowing us to be competitive in the marketplace."