Safeway, union agree to contract extension

Safeway Inc. and United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 7 have extended their contract for a third time to June 26 as they continue to negotiate a new agreement. The pact had been scheduled to expire June 15.

Kris Staaf, a Safeway spokeswoman in Denver, said the company and union agreed on the extension during Thursday's talks and are scheduling new negotiating sessions. Local 7 spokeswoman Laura Chapin couldn't be reached for comment.

Union members at King Soopers Inc. and Albertsons Inc. both continue to work without a contract; Local 7's agreement with Albertsons expired May 9 and its pact with King Soopers expired May 30.