Stop & Shop President: 'We’re Moving Forward Stronger Than Ever'

Stop & Shop's president released a statement Wednesday evening saying that the company is excited to move forward following April's 11-day union strike. Mark McGowan said the company is happy to have reached a fair agreement "that got the balance right" for both associates and Stop & Shop.

"At Stop & Shop, we are back to doing what we do best – taking great care of our customers – and we’re pleased to have fair and responsible new contracts in place for all of our store associates in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island," McGowan said.

McGowan acknowledged that the strike was "a challenging period for everyone." During the 11-day strike, 31,000 union workers across three states walked off the job in protest of failed contract negotiations. While many stores reopened with replacement workers, most remained empty as shoppers took their business elsewhere, refusing to cross the picket lines. According to an estimate from Ahold Dehaize, the Dutch company that owns Stop & Shop, the company lost between $90 million and $110 million over the course of the strike.

Union members officially approved the new three-year contract in a vote on Monday, a week after a tentative deal was struck on East Sunday. Both the union and Stop & Shop spoke favorably about the contract.

"We were able to reach agreements that got the balance right, with strong rewards for associates plus significant, durable structural changes, particularly on health care, that will enable Stop & Shop to protect jobs, serve our customers, and compete successfully as New England’s only remaining fully-unionized large supermarket company," McGowan continued.

The new contract includes:

• Wage increases for all workers
• Fully-funded pension plans for all full-time and part-time workers
• Protected time-and-a-half pay on Sundays
• Healthcare that includes coverage for spouses
• Free dental and vision
• Five weeks paid vacation
• No reduction in sick time or vacation time
• Pay increase when moving from part-time to full-time

Stop & Shop appears to be putting the strike behind them, saying the company is "moving forward stronger than ever."

"Our associates are fired up, customers are returning, and our stores are getting back to full operations faster than expected," McGowan "Our produce has never been fresher, Peapod deliveries are back on schedule, and we’re ready for Mother’s Day with fresh floral arrangements and plants."

McGowan concluded by thanking customers for their patience, support and confidence throughout the strike and beyond.

"We all look forward to continuing to provide them with the great service, selection, and value they expect and deserve," he said.

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

• Rhode Island Stop & Shop Union Workers Approve New Contract
• 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