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Once again, workers'
right to affordable health care is on stake: 58,000 workers at Ahold's US subsidiary Stop and Shop could be forced on strike if negotiations break down this week Collective bargaining negotiations at Stop & Shop, a major US subsidiary of Dutch retail multinational Ahold, could well break down this week. This would spark a strike in the largest retailer in New England, which employs 58,000 workers. The conflict is focused on the right to affordable healthcare for the company's workers and their dependents. Some progress has been made in the negotiations that started in December, but important issues are still open, the union says. Currently, some full time members working at Stop & Shop have affordable, quality health care. However, part time workers do not, so a major focus of negotiations has been improving plans for part timers. - The Local Unions involved recognize the company’s concern over the rising cost of health care in the US, and have presented several proposals that would address both workers’ and the company’s concerns, UFCW says. - However, Stop and Shop has ignored these proposals, although they’ve offered no solutions to the problem. All grocery workers need quality, affordable health care for themselves and their families. Anything less is simply unacceptable. A strike would be inevitable if the collective agreement negotiations would not lead to a result. All trade union locals involved in the negotiations have voted overwhelmingly to authorise a strike. - We aren't just negotiating for ourselves," said John Bourke, a UFCW member of Local 328 and a Stop & Shop employee. - We're fighting for the future, to take a stand and make it better for our kids." The Stop & Shop workers in New England have strong support from their colleagues working at other Ahold workplaces in the United States. This includes several UFCW Locals, representing workers in both Giant and Stop & Shop stores.
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