The Associated Press is reporting that three of five union locals in southern New England have ratified a contract with Stop & Shop, ending weeks of difficult negotiations over health benefits and wages.
Brian Petronella, president of Local 371 of the United Food and Commercial Workers in Connecticut, said about 500 members of his local approved the three-year contract on a voice vote Sunday, according to the AP.
Mark Espinosa, president of Local 919 in Connecticut, said members voted overwhelmingly Sunday to approve the agreement, which raises hourly wages for the supermarket workers and maintains pension and health benefits, according to the AP.
He said a Massachusetts local OK’d the agreement. Another Massachusetts local and a Rhode Island union were set to vote later in the day, according to the AP.
A spokeswoman for Stop & Shop said the company will comment after all the locals vote.
