dought there will be a strike. Both sides lost bad in califoria a number of years back. Until they come to the union and say that it is their last and best offer, then they will still talk. There will probable be a union vote ( if not one already ) to have the members authorize a strike and to work without a contract. kroger will probably work you under the guidlines of the expired contract, and continue on as is. Best guess is that the acctuarries does not have a true cost of what it will cost the company in heath insurance. Once that is done then you contract will move on. What Kroger is fishing for is big time consessions from the union, so that they can use that as a milage marker for other talks that are comming up.