Strike May Affect Local Supermarkets

A large grocery workers union, with over 23,000 workers, has authorized a strike against A&P/Pathmark and Stop and Shop Supermarket, which may affect your Fourth of July shopping plans.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW ) Local 1500, New York State's largest grocery workers union, organized the strike after management requests for employee concessions. Reductions included health care co-payments, an end to the additional Sunday pay for new workers and a decrease in  pension benefits.

While union members are fighting to maintain benefits without concessions, they are also asking for a wage increase. Currently, part-timers start at nine dollars an hour, and full-time employees have a starting wage of $12 per-hour.

Threatened strikes often result in early runs on existing supplies which only further worsen the situation, so given the widespread number of local supermarkets that could be affected, the Westchester area could be hard hit. 

The timing is more critical given the upcoming Fourth of July long weekend looming, and the additional increase in shopping and supermarket revenues expected as a result of traditional holiday barbeques and parties.

Local shoppers may want to take proactive action and buy non-perishable items in advance, while also determining alternate shopping sources for perishables in the event that a strike occurs near  the holiday weekend.

Given the current lack of progress in talks, the strike remains a very real possibility.

The supermarkets, which also include Gristedes and King Cullen, are holding strong despite the holiday weekend timing, and have been presenting a united front on the need for reductions in benefits.

The dispute has now reached a significant point as the union's contract expired at midnight on June 26. If no new contract is negotiated, supermarket workers can walk off the job at each of the supermarket chains in Westchester, Long Island, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, as well as New York City.

Calls to Harrison's A&P for comment on the possible strike were not immediately returned.