10,000 Stop & Shop Employees Voting On Authorizing Strike

DEDHAM, MA — A union, which represents almost 10,000 Stop & Shop employees in eastern and central Massachusetts, scheduled a meeting for Sunday on whether to vote on whether or not they will consider going on strike.

Over the last month, Stop and Shop and the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1445 have worked on negotiating a new contract, but neither side has been able to reach an agreement. Sunday's vote won't start a strike, rather it could give the union the authorization to declare a strike at any time.

The union told WFXT Stop & Shop wants to strip benefits away from employees, such as time-and-a-half pay for Sundays and holidays. The current contract, which expires on Saturday includes time-and-a-half pay. Stop & Shop in a press release said a new agreement has to be in line with industry changes. With minimum wages gradually increasing each year until it reaches $15 an hour, Massachusetts is in the process of phasing out time-and-a-half pay for Sundays and holidays.

"A fair, new agreement also must reflect the rapid changes and increasing competition that are reshaping our industry," a Stop & Shop spokesman said in a press release. "Any new contract must ensure that Stop & Shop can continue to offer customers the service, selection and value they expect."

Negotiations will start again on Saturday.