April 23, 2009

CONTRACT AGREEMENT REACHED FOR EMPLOYERS AND UFCW LOCAL 1262

CLIFTON, NJ — The Negotiation Committees comprised of nearly 100 rank-and-file UFCW Local 1262 members voted to accept a tentative contract agreement with ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Foodtown and Pathmark.  The membership will vote on the tentative agreement at meetings the week of April 27, 2009.

The contract covers nearly 30,000 Local 1262 members at ShopRite, Pathmark and Foodtown stores in New Jersey and the Western Hudson Valley Region of New York and Stop & Shop Supermarkets in New Jersey

According to UFCW Local 1262 President Harvey Whille, the Negotiation Committees accepted the tentative agreement because it did not change Health and Welfare benefits during the term of the new agreement, provides adequate funding to ensure that the Pension Fund continues to remain viable and provides a fair wage increase.

“We achieved everything we wanted going into these negotiations,” said Whille.  “First we obtained the same contract for all of our members no matter where they work.  Second, we maintained our level of benefits, which is a significant feat considering the fact that health care costs continue to increase annually and the state of the world’s investment markets.”

Local 1262 will hold four Special Union Meetings next week at which members will review the tentative agreement and then vote to accept or reject the contract.