February 27,
2007
Stop & Shop, unions back in contract
discussions
By
Donna Goodison
The
Boston Herald
At
the urging of federal mediators, Stop & Shop Supermarket
Cos. and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union
returned to the bargaining table yesterday to continue
brokering a new contract and avoid a threatened strike.
Both sides reported slight
progress yesterday, but health care remains a dividing issue
between the Quincy chain and five union locals representing
43,000 Stop & Shop workers in Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Rhode Island.
Stop & Shop wants union members
to contribute to the cost of their health-care premiums,
which it currently pays in full.
In a statement Saturday, the company said it proposed to
substantially shorten the eligibility period for part-timers
to get health-care coverage. It also proposed to increase
its contributions to the pension fund so current pension
benefits can be maintained. The pension fund is 100 percent
employer-funded, the statement said.
Talks, which recessed Sunday, are scheduled to continue
through tomorrow with mediators from the Federal Mediation
and Conciliation Service in Washington.
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