Union locals in Conn., Mass. and RI end contracts with Stop & Shop, allowing possible strike
By APThursday, March 4, 2010
Union locals end contracts with Stop & Shop market
HARTFORD, Conn. — Union locals representing nearly 40,000 southern New England supermarket workers have notified Stop & Shop that they will end the current contract, paving the way for a possible strike.
Connecticut’s Local 371 of the United Food and Commercial Workers was the first to notify the company Thursday, followed by locals in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The contract will expire at noon Friday.
Local 371 President Brian Petronella says the union hopes to force the company to improve its wage proposals. He did not provide details.
The company says it will be free to hire temporary workers if employees strike. Petronella says he is not concerned about what he says would be untrained workers stepping in.
The two sides resumed negotiations Thursday morning after extending two deadlines that expired last month.
