The union feels the company has been bargaining in bad faith.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Stop & Shop employees walked out at supermarkets across New England on Thursday afternoon, saying the grocery chain has "continued to bargain in bad faith."
"Everything we are asking for in a new contract is completely reasonable. Taking care of the workers that have made this company successful is the right for Stop & Shop to do," reads an update from leaders of United Food and Commercial Workers locals posted online on Thursday morning.
"We offered to form a subcommittee on negotiations as an effort to keep discussions with Stop & Shop going and negotiate in good faith."
Stop & Shop officials say they "remain ready and available to meet with the union locals at any time."
Employees at the North Adams store walked out about 1 p.m. on Thursday; store managers ushered customers out and locked the doors.
"They've been investing in infrastructure here but not in the workers," said Bill Laviolette, union steward and strike coordinator.
Workers held signs up along the sidewalk on Route 2 in front of the store as passing motorists beeped horns in support.
"The store has a little over 100 employees and we probably got about half of them out here right now," said one striker. "Just Marty's in the store," laughed a co-worker, referring the store's cleanup robot.
"They're not being forthright on how much money they're going to put away for the pensions ... they blame us because we're the only unionized supermarket in New England, but it's not a race to the bottom," Laviolette said. "We really decided there had to be a labor action and stand up to this corporate greed."
The union is objecting to changing the pension to a 401(k) it feels doesn't cover current future beneficiaries; Sunday premiums rather than time and a half (the company says the premium would be equal to time and a half for "current" employees); reductions in sick time and vacation time for future workers; and changes in health care contributions. Workers are also objecting to a rise in prepackaged meats over deli and butcher; the introduction of self-scan positions, carousels and Marty — the self-propelled robot that scours the aisles looking for spills and obstructions.
Stop & Shop, owned by Dutch multinational Ahold Delhaize, has countered that labor costs are having a "major impact" on the company's ability to compete in the changing market. National competitors like Walmart, Costco and Whole Foods/Amazon — non-union stores — have lower costs and access to lower prices, according to a press release put out by the company last month.
A federal mediator was brought in in an attempt to bring the two sides closer, but updates by union leadership indicated that there was a significant gap between the two parties.
In a statement on Thursday, Stop & Shop officials say no one's pay would be cut and that "Gold Level" health care benefits would continue for eligible associates and that the company increased contributions to the pension fund for vested associates.
On Thursday morning, the company claims it made suggestions to the federal mediator to keep talks going but that "The Locals provided no counter proposals to the mediators and simply stated they were proceeding with their plans."
The locals have countered that the grocer makes a $2 billion profit and is targeting union workers unfairly.
"They wouldn't show us where they were losing money or why they were making such drastic cuts," said Laviolette. "In fact, they were the No. 1 market share for grocers here in New England. ... leadership just came down and told us it's time for a strike."
Local 1459 represents workers at the Stop & Shop on State Road and the stores on Dan Fox Drive and Merrill Road in Pittsfield. Stop & Shop says it has contingency plans in place to minimize disruption.
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Stop & Shop consistently make the lists of the 10 worst supermarket chains in the country.
Colegrove Park Recognized as Top 10 School Statewide in Attendance
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Superintendent Barbara Malkas, left, Colegrove Principal Amy Meehan, Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Dean of Students Jonathan Slocum pose with the Celtics basketball award on Friday.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year.
Tim Connor, assistant director for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's west and central district, arrived with a gold basketball signed by the champion team to reward the students for their achievement.
"An award like this doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of work from all of you, the students, the parents, and especially Ms. Meehan and her wonderful staff, so a big round of applause," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, after leading the assembly in the gym to chants of "Colegrove rocks!" "I am so proud of this school and the community that all of you have built. So everyone should be really excited about today, and this is an excellent way to start your school."
Superintendent Barbara Malkas asked last year's fifth-graders at Colegrove to join her at the front of the gym for a special applause.
"When we track attendance of all the students in the whole district, these students have the highest attendance rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the entire district," Malkas said. "While all Colegrove students have been recognized as attendance all-stars, these students led the way in being attendance all-stars, so let's give them one more round of applause."
Colegrove switched this year to house Grades 3 to 6, so some of the younger students who helped earn the award are now at Brayton Elementary. However, all three elementary schools open last year saw improvement in attendance.
Schools statewide have been working to reduce chronic absenteeism — the percentage of students missing 10 percent of the school year, or 18 days — which peaked during the pandemic.
Last week, the nonprofit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 900-square-foot wooden structure with a full foundation and a composting toilet. The excavation process began this week, and completion is expected in 2026.
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The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year. click for more