Tentative Deal Ends Stop & Shop Union Strike

The Stop & Shop union strike came to an end Sunday evening after 11 days. The company announced that a tentative deal had been struck with the union which includes the pay raises, health benefits and pensions the union insisted on. All stores will reopen, fully staffed, on Monday as union members return to work.

On April 11, 31,000 workers across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut walked off the job, crippling stores right before the Easter and Passover holidays. While many stores reopened with replacement workers, stores reportedly saw a 75 percent decline in shoppers and several departments including the deli, meat and bake shop departments remaining shuttered.

As union workers return to stores, Stop & Shop said the first step will be to fill empty shelves.

"We're also glad to have our associates return to work," the company said in a statement. "Our associates' top priority will be restocking our stores so we can return to taking care of our customers and communities and providing them with the service they deserve."

According to a statement from Stop & Shop, the contract includes "increased pay ... continued excellent health coverage ... (and) ongoing defined benefit pension benefits."

The union said that each individual union branch will have to vote to accept the three-year contract.

"If they vote yes on the agreement, the protest will officially end," read a statement from the union. "In the meantime, while we wait on these meetings to be scheduled, our members WILL return to work tomorrow. This is a very positive development."

RIPTA announced Monday morning that all routes detoured by the strike are back to their usual schedules.

Stop & Shop strike timeline

• Jan. 14: Stop & Shop and workers start negotiations on a new contract.
• Feb. 23: The current contract expires.
• March 10: Workers start discussing a possible strike.
• April 11: Workers go on strike.
• April 21: The strike ends as both sides agree on a new contract.

Jason Claffey contributed to this report.

READ MORE:

• 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