Stop & Shop strike ends, company reaches 'tentative agreement' with unions

BOSTON — The strike for Stop & Shop workers has ended, the company announced Sunday night.

In a statement, the company said it has reached "fair new tentative agreements" with the unions representing its 31,000 associates in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

"We’re also glad to have our associates return to work as the strike has ended," the statement said.

The tentative three-year agreements are subject to ratification votes by members of each of the union locals, the company said. They include increased pay for all associates and for eligible associates, continued "excellent health coverage" and "ongoing defined" pension benefits.

"Our associates’ top priority will be restocking our stores so we can return to taking care of our customers and communities and providing them with the service they deserve," the company said. "We deeply appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers during this time, and we look forward to welcoming them back to Stop & Shop."

In a statement, the United Food and Commercial Workers, representing the five UFCW Local Unions - 328, 371, 1445, 1459, and 919 - called the "tentative agreement" that was reached "a powerful victory" for thousands of Stop & Shop workers.

The workers walked off the job on April 11 to protest the company’s proposed cuts to health care, take-home pay, and other benefits.

PREVIOUS: On Day 10, negotiations continue between Stop & Shop and the union, with no deal

"We are incredibly grateful to our customers and everyone who proudly stood together with us every day for a contract that invests in the communities we serve, and makes Stop & Shop a better place to work and a better place to shop," the United Food and Commercial Workers said.

"Under this proposed contract, our members will be able to focus on continuing to help customers in our communities enjoy the best shopping experience possible and to keep Stop & Shop the number one grocery store in New England," The UFCW said. "The agreement preserves health care and retirement benefits, provides wage increases, and maintains time-and-a-half pay on Sunday for current members."

The 11-day strike caught the attention of a lot of people, including former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who rallied with the workers.

PREVIOUS: 2020 candidate Pete Buttigieg joins Stop & Shop workers in Malden

Cox Media Group