S & S: Working, and Waiting

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by Allan Appel | Feb 28, 2007 9:13 am

(1) Comment | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Health Care

Last week Diana McFarland, a part-time Stop & Shop worker at the Amity Road store, was waiting to hear the results of the negotiations on a new contract between her union, UFCW Local 371 and Stop & Shop. She’s still waiting, and, according to Brian Petronella, president of Local 371, the outcome at this point does not appear to be a happy one. The key sticking point is health insurance.

“Unfortunately, we have seen no progress on any of our issues,” Petronella said by phone on Tuesday from the site of the negotiations in Providence, R.I.

At the end of last week, local 371 and the other four unions that represent 43,000 Stop & Shop workers in New England announced that they had seen some progress and were continuing talks with Stop & Shop at the urging of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Association.

However, that optimism appears to be waning as a new Friday sort-of-deadline approaches. “Let me say this,” he said wearily, “that on health care, wages, pensions, and job security I’ve seen no progress at all.”

Stop & Shop workers have been working without a contract since it expired on February 17. Negotiations have been going on between store and unions since December, 2006.

On Feb. wq Stop & Shop began running “Now Hiring” ads in local papers with locations and hours for replacement workers to sign up “in the event of a work stoppage by our Connecticut store associates.”

Petronella said the parties were going to continue talking through this week, and there was no deadline related to talking. However, he added, that he and other union leaders were also working to find venues for their 43,000 members to meet to review a final offer.

When might that final offer come? “I hope this week,” he said, “but it could be any time next week too. It might depend on when we announce our locations.” Petronella added that he and his and the other locals were trying to find venues so that all members throughout New England might be meeting at the same time.

Rob Keane, media relations manager for Stop & Shop, was asked to respond to Petronella’s assessment of progress. He sent an email release, which had been issued over the weekend containing these points: “Progress has been made, but some difficult issues remain, and health care remains a topic of serious ongoing discussion. Stop & Shop continues to seek modest contributions from associates towards the cost of their health care coverage. We have proposed to substantially shorten the eligibility period for health care for part time associates, and we’ve proposed to increase our contributions to the pension fund so current pension benefits can be maintained. The pension plan is 100 percent employer funded. We are proposing a good wage increase that will keep our associates competitive in the industry.”

The release concludes on a hopeful note that a new collective bargaining agreement can be reached.

In an update sent to his union’s members late Tuesday Petronella said talks continue and will do so through Friday. However he reiterated that “no progress” has been made at the bargaining table, and concluded: “In fact, there is escalating frustration because the company continues to make proposals which would adversely affect your wages, health benefits, and your pension benefits.”

Stay tuned.

Comment

posted by: AV on March 2, 2007 7:19pm

It does not look good

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