By Nate Walsh

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB) -- It appears as if a supermarket strike may not come to pass, as the head of the local union representing Stop & Shop grocery store employees has announced they anticipate voting on a company offer Sunday.

A posting on the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459 Web site Friday states union officials anticipate a ratification vote taking place at 3 p.m. Sunday in Holyoke.

The news comes hours after a message appeared stating that progress was being made in negotiation talks. That message carried the names of several local union presidents, including Scott Macey, who is the president of Local 1459, which represents employees in Western Massachusetts.

"We continue to press the Company for a fair and equitable contract offer. We are making serious progress especially in the areas of health & welfare and pension. But we are still far apart on wages as well as issues surrounding future new hires," states the message, which was posted at 6:41 p.m. Thursday.

A message dated Thursday afternoon stated the union had presented Stop & Shop with a termination notice that effective noon Friday, which would allow the union to strike at any point after that time.

The union and the grocery store chain's management have been at the bargaining table while employees have been working under a contract extension since their previous contract expired Feb. 20.

The union had previously taken a strike vote, and store management had been in the process of hiring temporary replacement workers in the event of a strike.