Support Continues to Build for New England UFCW Locals
Today, members of UFCW Local 328’s negotiating committee visited Stop & Shop stores alongside Union Representatives to discuss the outrageous proposals the Stop & Shop company have made during negotiations. Our members were justifiably infuriated that a successful company like Stop & Shop thinks it’s acceptable to offer up proposals that include the elimination of holiday pay, time and a half pay on Sunday, increased health insurance costs, and a decrease in pension contributions to the workers responsible for their success as a business. These proposals make it clear that the company does not value the hard work our members put in every single day, and our negotiating committee as well as our Union Representatives made it clear: this will not stand. When the company wants to take back the benefits our hard working members have earned, we as a union will fight back. Below are a few photos of some of the members our negotiating committee visited today.
We would once again like to thank the members of our communities and their families for their support during these negotiations, as well as the support we have received from many other unions, community groups, and UFCW Locals from across the country. Today we received a letter of support that was sent out to the members of UFCW Locals 23, 27, and 400 from their presidents, which can be viewed here or read below. Our strength is only growing. Continue to stay strong and stay together. Our unity is our strength, and our strength is our unity.
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A message to all our Giant food MEMBERS & their families
February 23, 2016
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As part of our great union family, we all have a responsibility to work together to improve and better the lives of all our members – regardless of what town we call home. Right now, more than 35,000 UFCW members in New England – represented by five Locals –are engaged in contract negotiations with the Stop & Shop, a subsidiary of Giant’s parent company, Ahold. From the very beginning, these Locals have negotiated in good faith, and all we’ve asked of Ahold is to do what is right by our members and their families.
The simple truth is that Ahold is a success because of you and all our members who work at Ahold’s stores – whether that store goes under the Giant Foods banner or the Stop & Shop banner. It is because of your dedication and commitment to serving our customers and the communities we love, that Ahold succeeds.
Instead of doing what is right, Ahold presented contract proposals that were nothing short of a slap in the face to these men and women – people just like you.
Not only is Ahold refusing to respect the hard work of our New England members, they are proposing dramatic changes to these contracts.
Ahold’s actions are wrong.
While your contract may not be involved, what the company is proposing is a threat to every member of our union family.
Make no mistake, Ahold’s actions in New England – if unstopped – will set a lower standard that the company will use when YOUR contract is up for negotiation. This is an issue that MUST matter to all of us.
Join with us, and stand with our brothers and sisters in New England. Help them, and help all of us, fight for the better life and good contract we all earn through our hard work.
So, here are the two things we’re asking you do:
First, call the Stop & Shop Customer Service Number at 1 (800) 767-7772, and tell them to stop threatening our New England members and their families. Tell them that you and your local stand with our New England union family. Tell them to do what is right.
Second, please tell your family and friends to do the same. Every call will send a clear message that we are a proud union family.
We stand together. We fight for each other – no matter where we call home.
Thank you for all that you do, and for the privilege of serving you:
Tony Helfer
President, UFCW Local 23
George Murphy, Jr.
President, UFCW Local 27
Mark Federici
President, UFCW Local 400
