Negotiations have avoided a grocery workers strike in Massachusetts as negotiations continued toward ending a labor action by workers in Southern California, press outlets reported.

A tentative agreement in Massachusetts between the United Food and Commercial Workers and Stop & Shop Supermarkets would have the companies continue to pay workers’ health care costs, The Norwich Bulletin reported. Health care is also a key issue in the California strike. 

The Southern California grocery strike has dragged on four months after it started, despite numerous attempts to bring it to an end. The strike started Oct. 21 and covers more than 800 Southern California stores operated by Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons, roughly 60 percent of all groceries in the southern half of the state. More than 70,000 workers are taking part.

The Massachusetts agreement covers 40,000 workers in three states, The Bulletin said. Workers have given their approval to the three-year pact.

Meanwhile, both sides in California were still meeting as part of a new round of negotiations presided over by federal mediator Peter Hurtgen.

“Based on my discussions with the parties, I believe we’ve reached a point where there is some potential for progress,” Hurtgen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, said in a statement.