Stop & Shop workers rally as strike approaches this week | News
(WFSB) – A strike of tens of thousands of Stop & Shop employees across New England is approaching a week.
Strickle's impact continues to snowball.
On Wednesday, sections produced at a Local Stop & Shop store in Hartford. The meat, delicatessen and bakery counter were also empty.
Peapod deliveries have been put on hold, which means that some customers who rely on the service do not have the opportunity to get groceries.
One of them is Ric Silver of Groton, who said he was unable to drive.
"I have to ask someone else to take me to the store and ask someone else to help me, and I shouldn't," said Silver.
At the same time, local suppliers who sell to Stop & Shop said that they do not get the big orders they need.
Stop & Shop said it has not had fresh food supplies since the strike started.
The food store and the workers' association continue to fight over pensions and health benefits.
Stop & Shop claims that it offers some of the best benefits in New England when it comes to grocery stores.
Channel 3 was the first drive to break the story yesterday Thursday.
Wednesday night, workers met with state and federal leaders New Haven.
"I'm just in awe, I'm surprised, I love this. It's power in numbers. This makes me happy, almost will cry," Skip Robinson said.
Union workers were joined by leaders at national level.
"If it takes a day, a week, a month, a year, we will be there to support them," said Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO president.
"The future of Connecticut and working people in Connecticut is really what is in danger if Stop and Shop fail to do the right thing," Senator Richard Blumenthal said.
"Stop and Shop tells us we are a family, honest in the heart of hearts, they can end this anytime they want," said Jeff Doyle, South Windsor.
Negotiations continued on wages, pensions, and health services on Wednesday. Everything is at stake for 31[ads1],000 workers in New England, and about 8,000 workers in Connecticut.
"They are living paycheck to paycheck; they need to afford their everyday lives and be able to have a home at the end of all this," says Katherine Mamed, John J. Driscoll United Labor Agency. in a statement that Stop & Shop recognizes the valuable role our staff plays in creating a great experience for you, they are part of your life, part of our community, and the key to our success. "
Mom said she misses her job at the deli counter.
She visited the food pantry in Hartford at the United Labor Agency, picking up bags of eggs, meat and canned food.
"It's hard now, just trying to do it now, so this really helps, I might have two meals left," Monique Lapointe said.
Now she wants to miss two paychecks, including this week's striking and a holiday we before.
Based on information from both sides, an important point in negotiation is overtime and half pay on Sundays and holidays for current and new employees.
Local grocery stores feel the effects [19659002] When the Stop & Shop strike continues, other shoppers go elsewhere for their groceries.
At West Side Market in Rocky Hill, the management and regulars have seen many new faces.
Long-term employees know their customers and what they want.
Since the strike began last Thursday, business has intensified.
"I'm with them. I'm a Union man. It's their rights. You expose yourself to other stores, I have to shop somewhere," says Michael Sayed, from Cromwell.
Every department is busy and in the ministry flies hammer out the door as Easter is approaching. 19659002] "Right now we have a good selection of ham. We are out of one brand Carrando right now, but we expect more tomorrow, says Chris Romeo, vice president of the West Side.
He said the business has been stable since the picking lines went up last week. 19659002] "We probably see between a 35-45% increase in business and our customer numbers have risen dramatically," Romeo said.
