Giant, Teamsters in Agreement

JON SPRINGER

LANDOVER, Md. — Union workers at Giant-Landover's dry grocery warehouse struck a deal with operator C&S Wholesale Grocers that will keep the facility open, union sources told SN last week.

Separately, union workers in Giant's perishable facility and transportation units ratified a new contract directly with Giant that includes a stipulation that the retailer would not outsource their jobs for three years.

The pact with Keene, N.H.-based C&S will cost around 200 jobs but keep the Jessup, Md., dry-goods warehouse open, according to Richie Brooks, president of Teamsters Local 730, one of two union locals representing workers at the facility. Workers were concerned that C&S would close the warehouse and move the jobs to an automated facility in York, Pa., but were able to arrange a compromise that would move around 40% of the work — or 80 Giant stores — to York while keeping the remainder in Jessup, Brooks said.

“I have to give credit to [C&S Executive Vice President] Bruce Johnson and C&S. They stepped up to the plate and were willing to compromise themselves,” Brooks told SN. “We were looking at losing all of the jobs.”

Laid-off workers will receive buyouts and opportunities at other Giant facilities, Brooks added.

In separate agreements, Teamsters ratified four-year deals for Giant's transportation and perishable warehouse facility.

“In what has become an extremely competitive marketplace, these new agreements are good for Giant's associates and the company, and help establish a long-term model for continued growth and success,” Giant said in a statement.

The contract includes provisions that provide associates with increased pay and continued access to quality benefits during the lifetime of the agreement. Associates will receive a lump sum bonus immediately and wage increases of 45 cents per hour each of the following three years of the contract. Giant will also continue to provide health care coverage at no cost to current associates.