Tentative agreement reached between Stop & Shop, striking workers

A preliminary agreement between Stop & Shop and thousands of striking workers was reached on Sunday evening, both sides said in separate statements.

Strike, who had been on his tenth Sunday, began when 31,000 Stop & Shop workers went off the job on April 11 in 240 stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The preliminary three-year agreement between Stop & Shop and the five United Food and Commercial Workers locals representing workers provides increased pay for all employees, as well as continued health coverage and retirement benefits, both parties said.

UFCW in its statement Sunday said the deal also maintains one and a half wages on Sunday for current members.

"We are incredibly grateful to our customers and everyone who proudly joined us every day for a contract that invests in the communities we serve, and makes Stop & Shop a better place to work and a better place to shop,

The deal is subject to ratification of members of each of the five unions, the company said.

"We are also pleased that our employees return to work when the strike is over," said the company in a statement released on Sunday night.

The company said that its employees' top priority will be docking their stores so they can "return to take care of our customers and communities," the statement said.

"We greatly appreciate our patience and understanding customers during this time, and we look forward to welcoming them back to Stop & Shop, "the company said.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

John Hilliard can be reached at john.hilliard@globe.com.