Grocer Strike Gets OK

By ELLEN THOMPSON
Queens Tribune Online

As contract deadlines draw near, more than 1,500 unionized Pathmark and Stop and Shop Supermarket workers were faced this week with a vote they hoped they wouldn’t have to take.

On Monday Pathmark workers voted unanimously to authorize their union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 headquartered in Queens Village, to call a strike any time after midnight on June 25. Stop and Shop followed suit Tuesday night.

“We have offered a fair and equitable settlement for all parties and will do everything possible to avoid a work stoppage,” said Local 1500 President Bruce Both, expressing his frustration with negotiations.

Company proposals to reduce Sunday premium pay for new hires and to add paycheck co pays of $25 per week for health insurance for current and future workers spurred unanimous votes.

“Both of these issues have been in every set of negations,” Local 1500 spokesman Patrick Purcell said. “Every four years when it is time to negotiate contacts members say no to these issues and instead look at ways to help cut healthcare costs, willing to work with management.”

By agreeing to the company’s negotiations, Purcell said it would be like giving the workers a wage reduction.

The last thing union members want to do is form a picket line in front of the borough’s supermarkets, Purcell added.
But with healthcare and living costs rising in New York City and negotiations still not settled a picket line might be the only route left for workers to take.

“The union doesn’t want to inconvenience the shoppers but this is the direction employers have led us in.” said Purcell of a union that has not gone on strike in well over 30 years. “Knowing that Queens is an area heavily involved with unions, we feel the borough’s shoppers will support us and we will encourage them to show elsewhere.”