The United Food and Commercial Workers Union has offered to submit the months-old Southern California grocery strike to binding arbitration, press outlets reported Feb. 4.

The action would mean striking workers would return to their jobs at Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons immediately, The Associated Press reported. Replacement workers who have been at the stores would leave their posts.

The union told the news service it sent the proposal directly to the three companies by mail and fax; the companies did issue a brief statement, but said they preferred to return to bargaining with the help of a federal mediator. Previous sessions with the mediator failed to resolve the dispute.

The strike, which centers on health care benefits, started Oct. 21 and covers more than 800 Southern California stores operated by the three companies, which make up roughly 60 percent of all groceries in the southern half of the state. More than 70,000 workers are taking part. It has dragged on despite numerous attempts to end it.