Teamsters Stage Strike at A&P

JON SPRINGER

WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — Union truck loaders for A&P on Wednesday staged a one-day strike at a warehouse operated by supplier C&S Wholesale Grocers here, protesting an anticipated loss of jobs and a lack of progress in contract negotiations.

The loaders, who work for Grocery Haulers Inc., are represented by Teamsters Local 863, Mountainside, N.J. Grocery Haulers is contracted to provide delivery services for A&P. The workers have been without a contract for 10 months and said A&P had refused to negotiate on a new contract. In addition, some 1,500 jobs could be lost when C&S moves warehousing and distribution to other locations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts, reportedly in February.

C&S, Keene, N.H., was not immediately available for comment. A spokeswoman for A&P told SN “it is the company's position not to comment publicly on any discussions or negotiations we may be having with our suppliers as we work to implement our comprehensive turnaround plan.”

Teamsters said the strike disrupted service to A&P stores from the Woodbridge facility. Around 200 workers in the meantime rallied outside of A&P’s headquarters in Montvale, N.J.