Stop & Shop, Not Strike
By George Anderson
Customers can continue to stop and shop at Stop & Shop as the retail chain and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) were able to reach an agreement on a new
contract. The deal, covering three years, averts a walkout of 40,000 grocery workers in three states.
The new deal includes pay increases as well as a commitment by the company to continue paying all health care plan premiums for union workers.
Faith Weiner, a spokesperson for Stop & Shop, said the deal is, “Good for our associates, our customers and our business. … Everyone won.”
Moderator’s Comment: Why was Stop & Shop (Ahold) able to make a deal with the UFCW
while the impasse between the union and the chains remains in Southern California?
The federal mediator involved in the Southern California negotiations, Peter Hurtgen, now sees “the potential for progress” in the stalemate between the
UFCW and Albertsons, Kroger and Safeway. We guess “the potential for progress” will have to do when no actual progress has been made.
In a separate negotiation, Food 4 Less has reached a deal with the UFCW to extend its current contract by five weeks as the chain, owned by Kroger, and
the union seek to reach agreement on a new deal. – George
Anderson – Moderator