WATCH: UFCW Union Members Protest Local Raley's

Raley's workers and members of the United Food and Commercial Workers held protest at the local supermarket at the corner of San Juan and Sunset avenues.

The workers union went on strike Sunday after rejecting a contract offer from the Raley's company.

Among those protesting was Arden-Arcade resident and employee of the San Juan Ave. market, Art Gavel. Like others who have gone on strike, he explained, Gavel, hopes an amicable agreement can be reached by both sides, noting his experiences so far with the company, "have all been extremely nice."

"In the end, we're all a family here," Gavel said.

Gavel has worked for the supermarket chain for three years.

In a statement released by UFCW spokesman Ron Lind has said, "Our goal from the beginning is to negotiate a fair agreement serving the needs of both Raley’s and its Union employees.”

Over the last weekend Raley's offered its employees its final-offer contract, including the elimination of extra pay for working nights, Sundays and holidays, and the creation "of two distinct classes of workers — those hired after the next contract is ratified and those hired before," according to the union. A federal mediator was involved in the negotiations.

The Sacramento Bee reported the strike is the first in the 77-year history of Raley's, and noted that Bel Air employees are not affected because they haven't ratified a strike vote.

Raley's has three stores in the Fair Oaks-Carmichael area:

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