NEW YORK — Union workers at three major supermarket employers in the New York metro area reached a tentative agreement on a new contract Monday night, but said bad feelings stemming from the negotiations would resonate “for many years to come.”
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 here, denounced one employer, Stop & Shop, for “reprehensible bargaining tactics” — saying the retailer could expect “a more difficult labor-management relationship” in the years to come.
According to the UFCW, Stop & Shop tried to “capitalize” on financial difficulties at the other two employers, A&P/Pathmark and King Kullen.
“Pathmark and King Kullen had particular challenges and together we bargained hard and fair to resolve them,” Patrick Purcell, a spokesman for Local 1500, said in a statement. “It was Stop & Shop that made these talks extremely difficult.”
The union said it would no longer partner with Stop & Shop on legislative issues such as bottle redemption and debit card fees.
Stop & Shop had no immediate comment. Workers are expected to vote on ratification of the new deal within 10 days.