Massachusetts Stop & Shop Workers Approve New Contract

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Stop & Shop union workers Monday night agreed to a new contract with management after an 11-day strike. The contract includes pay raises, the protection of health benefits and up to five weeks vacation. The strike started on April 11 and lasted 11 days as 31,000 union workers across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut walked off the job.

The union meetings were held at Ambrosia's Weddings and Events on Washington Street in Foxborough. Union officials said voters approved a contract which included:

• Pay increases
• Pension protectios
• Time-and-a-half pay on Sundays
• Health care for spouses
• Free dental and vision coverage
• Up to five weeks paid vacation
• No reduction in sick time or vacation time

Union workers went on strike 11 after months of contract negotiations broke down. According to an estimate from the company's parent company, Stop & Shop lost $100 million during the strike.

In Massachusetts some stores closed, but most remained open with skeleton crews consisting of store management and corporate employees. Butcher shops, deli counters and bake shops closed without the necessary workers, leaving mostly non perishable goods as the only options. Customers overwhelmingly supported striking workers, with an estimated 75 percent of Stop & Shop's most loyal customers choosing to shop elsewhere.

A statement from Stop & Shop said the new contract includes "increased pay ... continued excellent health coverage ... (and) ongoing defined benefit pension benefits."

Union workers returned to work on April 22 after reaching a tentative deal with management.

Patch's full coverage of the Stop & Shop strike:

• Stop & Shop Lost $100 Million During Strike
• Stop & Shop Traffic Down 75 Percent During Strike: Data
• Stop & Shop Strike Over As Worker Pay Raises Approved
• Stop & Shop: Many 'Myths' Amid Worker Strike
• Stop & Shop Apologizes To Customers As Strike Enters Day 7
• Stop & Shop Strike Day 5: Food Donated To Pantries
• Stop & Shop Strike Day 2: Some Stores Reopen
• Stop & Shop Strike Detours 17 RIPTA Routes
• Rhode Island Stop & Shop Workers Go On Strike

Rachel Nunes/Patch contributed to this story.