Union, Stop & Shop Reach Tentative Contract Agreement

A tentative contract agreement was reached over the weekend between Stop & Shop and the union representing 35,000 of its workers in New England and New York.

The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by the 35,000 members of the five local unions covered by the agreement, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 328, Local 371, Local 919, Local 1445 and Local 1459. Each local union will hold ratification votes in the coming weeks, according to officials from the UFCW.

“Today’s agreement is the result of unity and solidarity from all of our members who work for Ahold and its banner grocery stores," UFCW officials stated in a release over the weekend. "Our goal was to work together, beat back the company’s concessionary demands and negotiate a better life for our incredible Stop & Shop members. Working together, we have reached a tentative agreement that all sides can agree is fair and equitable."

The current contract between Ahold, the parent company of the supermarket chain, and the union expired at the end of February.

At that time, the UFCW members voted to authorize a potential strike, but continued working as negotiations were extended.