ShopRite, Stop & Shop Workers OK New Deal

CLIFTON, N.J. — Around 24,000 workers at Stop & Shop and ShopRite stores in New York and New Jersey represented by United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1262 here voted overwhelmingly to accept a new labor agreement with their employers, the union said Tuesday.

According to Harvey Whille, UFCW Local 1262 president, the new, 24-month contract, retroactive to Oct. 16, 2011, is one of the best labor agreements in the Northeast and provides health care benefits, pension and across-the-board wage increases.

“Local 1262 is known for consistently negotiating pacesetting collective bargaining agreements that have improved working conditions, wages and benefits for our members,” said Whille. “As in the past we have negotiated a contract that continues to set the industry standard by providing excellent wages, comprehensive health benefit plans and secure pensions.”

The new contract covers nearly 24,000 Local 1262 members who work full- and part-time in stores in northern New Jersey and the western Hudson Valley of New York. Local 1262 is currently in negotiations with Foodtown and Stop & Shop of New York.