What’s Happening With New England Stop & Shop Negotiations
UFCW Locals 328, 371, 919, 1445, and 1459, representing approximately 30,000 UFCW members at Stop & Shop across New England, have announced the latest update in ongoing contract negotiations. Here’s what to know.
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
The joint bargaining table has not yet reached a tentative agreement. Bargaining sessions are scheduled for February 11 and 12. The UFCW has given Stop & Shop a deadline of February 15 to reach a fair deal. If a tentative agreement is not reached by then, members will vote at in-person vote meetings scheduled in each local on Sunday, February 15 to authorize a strike. If more than 67% of members vote Yes, then the bargaining committees will return to the bargaining table with a mandate from the members that workers are ready to strike for the contract they deserve.
If a tentative agreement is reached during bargaining on February 11 and 12, then there are two possible options. If the bargaining committee believes it’s a good offer, they’ll recommend a Yes vote to the membership, and ratification votes will be held in-person on Sunday, February 15. If the bargaining committee does not believe this is the best offer Stop & Shop can provide, then they’ll recommend that members vote No in order to reject Stop & Shop’s offer, and vote Yes to authorize a strike.
After closing more than 30 Stop & Shop stores across New England in 2024, the company is still attempting to boost profits by cutting hours. Meanwhile, Ahold Delhaize, the Dutch-Belgian multinational corporation that owns Stop & Shop, has announced a planned 1 billion euro ($1.2 billion) stock buyback for its shareholders in early 2026. Ahold Delhaize saw record-high sales in the first quarter of 2025, according to Reuters.
Order Fair Contract buttons from EW4D here!
UFCW Local 1445 announced on Facebook a demand for a $25 per hour starting pay at Stop & Shop. That would be a significant jump of nearly $9 per hour at some stores, where starting pay is just above local minimum wage. Healthcare, staffing, and hours are other top priorities for members. Reviving the meatcutter apprenticeship program has also been brought to the bargaining table, after Stop & Shop eliminated in-store meatcutters in 2021.
Strong contracts are won by the power workers build together on the shop floor. That means transparent negotiations where members are informed, involved, and empowered. Starting with small actions, like sharing flyers, wearing union-related buttons, and organizing carpools to meetings can make steps towards getting more members involved.
Rank and file members are starting to button up to show Stop & Shop they’re serious about getting a fair contract. You can order pin-back buttons that read “STOP Cutting Hours: Fair Stop & Shop Contract Now!” and “STOP Part-time Poverty: Fair Stop & Shop Contract Now!” for free (just cover shipping) on the EW4D online store. You can also print copies of a bargaining update flyer here.
Vote Meeting Times & Locations
UFCW Local 328 - All meetings at 12 PM noon, in Nantucket, Edgartown, and Foxborough on February 15. Click here for addresses.
UFCW Local 371 - 10 AM at the Sheraton Hartford South Hotel, 100 Capitol Blvd, Rocky Hill, CT on February 15.
UFCW Local 919 - 9 AM at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 42 Century Dr., Bristol, CT 06010 on February 15.
UFCW Local 1445 - 9 AM at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, 181 Boston Post Rd, Marlborough, MA, 01752 on February 15.
UFCW Local 1459 - 1 PM at the Knights of Columbus, 460 Granby Rd, Chicopee, MA 01013 on February 15.