Stop & Shop workers continue to picket
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Stop & Shop and the union represented its workers returned to the negotiating table Saturday afternoon amid ongoing strike.
A spokesperson for Stop & Shop said those negotiations lasted several hours before wrapping up the night.
More than 240 stores are feeling the impacts after about 31,000 members walked away from a company proposal and walked off the job Thursday .
Workers at the East Providence Stop & Shop were off the job on strike for a third straight day. "I want to be working. I don't want to be out here on the picket line," grocery manager who's worked for the company for almost 30 years, said.
UPDATE: Spokesperson for @StopandShop tells me negotiations between company & union representing workers have wrapped up for the night. Scheduled to resume tomorrow morning. Workers have been on strike since Thursday over contract disputes. More at 11 on @ wpri12 .
– Eric Halperin- WPRI (@EricHalperinTV) April 14, 2019
For months, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Stop & Shop have been trying to reach a deal about things such as health care, take-home pay and customer service. According to the union, members are upset about proposed cuts to pay and benefits.
Quote from the company Stop & Shop's President Mark McGowan wrote:
In paid time off or holidays for current associates, it does this while maintaining a responsible balance in rewarding our associates, protecting jobs and serving our customers in a dramatically changing, mostly non-union environment. " at people who drove into the Providence Stop & Shop on Branch Avenue. During the day, Congressmen David Cicilline and Jim Langevin posted on social media about their stops supporting workers at local stores.
Dropped by another picket line in Woonsocket a few minutes ago. You can tell the real success of this company is the great men and women who work there and deserve to be treated fairly. Union strong! @UFCW @AFLCIO @riaflcio @projo @ wpri12 @ NBC10 @ ABC6 pic.twitter.com/ThcpOVQ0MB
] – David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) April 13, 2019
"It's a horrible situation for everybody, it's gonna be a horrible situation for the company, it's gonna be a horrible situation for us as well. I know, I want to go back to work, "McGuirl said.
Negotiations are expected to start again sometime Sunday morning.
Workers say they will continue to picket until a deal is reached.
