NY State's Largest Grocery Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with Stop & Shop

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Stop and Shop Negotiating Committee

WESTBURY, NY (12/19/2013)(readMedia)-- After three-months of tense negotiations, the negotiating committee for United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1500 announced they have come a tentative agreement with Stop & Shop . The previous agreement expired on Sept. 28, 2013 and was extended twice until November 2, 2013. Since then, 6,000 New York Stop & Shop workers from the East End of Long Island to Rhinebeck, in upstate New York, have been working without a contract.

The tentative agreement for 6,000 Stop and Shop workers will be voted on Monday, December 23, 2013 at multiple locations throughout UFCW Local 1500's jurisdiction.

"Our team has fought every second of the day to try and secure not just "any contract" but the best contract we can. We feel we have," said Negotiating Committee Member Greg Pasquale from Stop & Shop in Beekman, NY.

Lead Negotiator and Secretary-Treasurer for UFCW Local 1500 Tony Speelman said, "The only way we were able to reach this tentative agreement was through our members' solidarity, preparedness and dedication during this tense and difficult process. I urge all Stop & Shop members to come to the polling sites, review the contract thoroughly, then vote for their best interests."

Problems with Affordable Care Act mandates were cited throughout negotiations. UFCW Local 1500 had been in final stages of planning for a work stoppage if a deal could not be reached.

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United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Westbury, New York, represents over 22,800 grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, Fairway, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, D'Agostinos, Key Food, Shop Rite and King Kullen.

Stay up to date with UFCW Local 1500 on twitter @ufcw1500, facebook.com/ufcw1500, and at www.ufcw1500.org.