<p>The Vineyard Haven store has been shuttered since Friday. The Edgartown store is open for business with few customers and sparse shelves. The strike has affected both Island Stop & Shop stores.
The Vineyard Haven store has been shuttered since Friday. The Edgartown store is open for business with few customers, sparse shelves and an even sparser parking lot. The picket line is ever present.
Produce shelves are stocked.
Produce shelves are stocked.
This was the scene at the two Stop & Shop stores on the Vineyard Tuesday as a regional job walk-off that began last week entered its sixth day.
“People are supporting us,” said store butcher and picketer James Sumner. “It’s not as busy as it normally is. We’ve managed to keep the parking lot pretty empty.”
By 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Mr. Sumner said he’d seen fewer than ten customers pull into the parking lot all morning. Inside the store, most produce and dairy aisles remained stocked but at lower than normal quantities. The pastry section was entirely empty and the deli counter was not open for service.
“You don’t want to mess with the food chain,” Mr. Sumner said.
Stop & Shop spokesman Jennifer Brogan countered the claims, saying in an email to the Gazette that the Edgartown store “has been quite busy” since the strike began and has not had to donate any rotten produce. She added that the store would work with Island Grown Initiative and other local partners if that changed.
Contract negotiations between management and the three unions that represent the 31,000 Stop & Shop workers in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts fell apart last Thursday. At approximately 1 p.m. employees at the Edgartown and Vineyard Haven stores heard news of the strike and abruptly walked out of the stores, leaving deli meats on the counter and confused customers in the check-out line.
All Stop & Shop associate-level employees on the Island are part of the UCFW Local 1459 union. Stop & Shop’s stand-alone pharmacy in Edgartown remains open for service.
Bakery shelves are empty.
Bakery shelves are empty.
Ms. Brogan said managerial staff and a few corporate administrative personnel are currently working in the Edgartown store.
The grocery chain is owned by the Dutch holding company Ahold, which owns other supermarkets.
At issue in the contract talks are proposed increases to employee out-of-pocket health care contributions and the company’s growing reliance on automation inside the stores, according to union representative Erikka Knuti. Mr. Sumner, a butcher at the Edgartown store, said the company wants to outsource meat-cutters.
“We’re expensive and hard to find,” he said. “They want to replace us with pre-prepared and pre-packaged meats.”
Ms. Brogan said Stop & Shop is asking associates to make an increased health care contribution of $2 to $4 per week, depending on their coverage plan.
Standing outside the Edgartown store on Tuesday, Mr. Sumner said a few delivery vehicle drivers are in solidarity with the strikers and haven’t crossed the picket line, including Cape Cod Express trucking service and those who drive with the Teamsters 25 union.
Ms. Brogan said in an email to the Gazette that the Edgartown Stop & Shop is getting deliveries.
Mr. Sumner also said that local businesses and customers have supported the picketers with hot chocolate, coffee, and food, including Sharky’s, the Dock Street Diner, Dippin Donuts, Espresso Love, and others.
“I’m eating better now than I ever did,” employee Dennis Logan said with a laugh.
The strike has earned the support of politicians around the region. State Rep. Dylan Fernandes and state Sen. Julian Cyr have voiced support for the strikers, while senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren have joined picket lines.
Picketers are Stop & Shop employees who are protesting wage offers and a move toward automation by the parent company.
Picketers are Stop & Shop employees who are protesting wage offers and a move toward automation by the parent company.
Although picketers on the Island said they’ve had a few angry customers, on Tuesday many driving by the Edgartown store honked in support.
“Some people are getting grumpy. We’ve gotten a few fingers,” Mr. Sumner said. “And we’re understanding, this is the only place WIC is accepted.”
WIC is a Massachusetts state aid program that provides nutritional support, free of charge, to women and children who qualify based on income.
Picketer Michael Goslin is due to marry his fiancee, Alexandra, in four days. When he goes off-Island on Thursday for his wedding and honeymoon, he said he plans to picket in Brockton and Providence beforehand.
“This affects a lot more than just the vendors,” Mr. Goslin said. “This affects life.”
Ms. Brogan said both sides are back at the negotiating table and hope to reach an agreement soon.
“The only thing I can say right now is that bargaining is continuing and we are working to come to an agreement as quickly as possible,” she said.
Comments
Transparency and cards-up
JP ChappyTransparency and cards-up negotiating goes a long way in difficult circumstances. What are the financial and operational pressures driving the proposed changes @ Stop & Shop? Healthcare costs? Freight costs? Food costs? Associate performance? Absent this information, any negotiation such as this devolves into a simple money grab.
"The unions said that Ahold
R Scott Patterson Edgartown"The unions said that Ahold Delhaize had more than $2 billion in profits last year and got a U.S. tax cut of $225 million in 2017." If this statement from the union is correct then the attempt by Stop and Shop management's reason has nothing to do with anything but greed. They want employees to take a pay/benefit cut and also get rid of time and a half on Sundays for all new employees(you wanna bet the majority of workers on Sundays will be all new hires if this policy is implemented?). Don't cross the picket lines(I do however have sympathy for people on WIC who may need to cross the lines)!
So you don't know if it is
Paulli D EdgartownSo you don't know if it is fact about the tax cuts or profits, but you state it's all about greed. Do you really believe what the Union says is fact or truth or just trying to get their members on the picket line. Competition is rampant in the super market industry with Target and others now selling food. S&S is a good neighbor to all of the island with their reasonably priced goods. Increases in costs will eventually raise food costs, then what will the islanders complain about. Let people cross the lines and shop where they want.
Would you rather Cronig’s
Richard Whittaker OssiningWould you rather Cronig’s continue to donate large sums of money to select island organizations and non-profits, or keep that money and use it to lower their prices?
I strongly encourage everyone
matthew sudarsky west tisburyI strongly encourage everyone to not cross the picket lines.
The employees they have
edgartown shopper EdgartownThe employees they have brought in are much nicer than the regular ones. Unions have long gouged their members and the public. I hope there every day now in a show of solidarity for the company.
I stand 100% with the
Nina GardeI stand 100% with the employees, but I live off island, I left in 2013, after living in VH for 35 years, so I have Big Y and Market Basket. I feel for the Vineyard people because Stop and Shop is your only, barely, affordable option. Here I rarely shop there because it is too expensive.
The people they have brought
Chris EdgartownThe people they have brought in are managers who probably make twice as much as the rest of the workers. Solidarity with a company? The laws of the land and the solidarity of the people are the only reasons companies even treat with workers. We need more union not less. All our town workers are unionized including Edgartown Police officers.
Imagine that, asking
here we go again edgImagine that, asking employees to pay an extra $2 or $4 per week out of their raises towards health care, while the company absorbs astronomical cost increases for their medical benefits. Reliance on automation (THANKFULLY!), and 'pre-prepared and package meats'. Wow. I'm sure that an efficient off-island butcher operation can deliver and supply the same quality cut meat to multiple stores that already sits in the cases. If you want something special go see your locally owned butcher. These employees are being fed a lot of BS by a union hungry for their dues. And its almost a week now. No matter WHAT they 'get' in a contract they will never make up their lost wages. Automation has been great for the country. No more elevator operators, telephone operators, coal shoveling firemen on trains, and 'cashiers' that slide a product over a scanner. You make ferry reservations online- did the clerks at the SSA go on strike? You make airline reservations online-did the clerks go on strike? You can renew your drivers license online- did the RMV go on strike? Get with the program.
Well my friend. I will
Ann Law Enfield, Ct.Well my friend. I will continue to break the picket line locally. Greedy unions can go to hell.
Although I sympathize with
Steve West TisburyAlthough I sympathize with the workers - Stop & Shop has always been a bad representation of this Island. We do have alternatives where we can buy our groceries - so, do not cross the lines and just shop elsewhere!
You hear one thing from the
Dave Preston ChathamYou hear one thing from the company on the news, the other from the striking workers. Would someone please tell me. Are they striking for higher wages? I hear they are being asked to contribute more to their health insurance? $ wise, what is the average employee paying now? They are taking $25/a week from me at my company, and I'am on a single plan.
Someone please let me know, curious..
I hope they don't outsource
TAD ChappyI hope they don't outsource the butchers at Reliable Market.
Steve, we do not have
Tracy Vineyard HavenSteve, we do not have alternatives to shopping. Cronigs market is absurdly over priced for really inadequate products- I will not crossed the picket line.
This article names cape cod
Yerp TisburyThis article names cape cod express as a local(ish) company who’s unionized drivers stand in support with of the workers on strike by not crossing the picket lines. Could we here about the local companies who, in contrast, continue supporting stop and shop’s operations by crossing the picket line? I can see why that might ruffle some feathers but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
If the issues as stated by
Concerned Shopper EdgartownIf the issues as stated by Union representative Erikka Knutti are accurate, I can promise one and all that I will never set foot in ANY Stop & Shop again. To try and hurt loyal employees (current and future) financially is unconscionable. I respectfully urge all residents of Martha's Vineyard to join me.
So S&S has to compete with
Paulli D EdgartownSo S&S has to compete with Target, Walmart and on island other markets. All private employers are asking employees to pick up more of the healthcare premium costs, and to add more their pensions. Unions don't care of market competition, and please don't tell me about 'they made profits' - that is what a company does or it will not sustain itself or exist. If you can't afford to live on MV working at S&S, then you need to improve your skills for a better job or move off island. Companies do not exist to guarantee income to their employees especially in a small margin business as retail markets. I find it funny that all of the union workers disparage the company. If S&S pulls off island, Cronigs will be it, and then what will you all do? Unions needs to get real about the competitive forces that drive the industry.
All these " strikers " are
Rick Oak BluffsAll these " strikers " are our friends and neighbors, mostly local people who pay taxes, have monthly bills just like you and me. They happen to be members of a union and as such band together at these times. Support them and quit thinking of yourselves and the burden it puts on you personally, walk in their shoes for a day as this drags out. Maybe the root of the problem is outside the U.S, a company that in reality does not care as we should and treat people as people not numbers and bottom lines
Unions built this country.
charlie callahan so boston/edgartownUnions built this country. Before unions,safety rules and Osha there was no workmens comp,when someone was hurt they were fired.Construction workers,miners and tunnel workers died like flies and no one cared. Unions helped bring all these things about and all these GOOD CITIZENS putting the unions down probably spent most of their lives in a nice office or in daddy's company and never really saw the real world.Stop and Shop is not trying to make employees pay $2 a week more for health insurance,they are trying to eliminate it. They want to eliminate pensions for future hires and are not offering any raises. A lot of the whiners are probably living off money their ancestors made off the backs of people who weren't unionized and worked til they dropped. And the dopes who say union people don't work hard are fools, I went to StS every day before the strike and everyone I saw worked hard and put up with snide remarks probably from the same losers who are putting them down for striking. I have more respect for the kids who work there than for the muffies and buffies that come in with their BMW's and ROVERS. They are the ones with their noses up in the air who think they are special. And on union jobs if you don't do your work you can be fired. Stop and Shop is not even owned by an AMERICAN company
Amen
Sam ObAmen
All the companies are doing
Chris EdgartownAll the companies are doing is asking the employees... that refrain is common from corporate persons but does the company share their profits with the employees? No. In a time of high profits, healthcare costs are going up. They never go down but if the labor of these workers has enabled the company to reap these profits how fair is it for that company to then try to enact higher profits at the expense of those same workers?
Why does no other supermarket
Mr. T W. TisWhy does no other supermarket chain want to set up shop on the island? The competition would give workers more options and help release the stranglehold that S&S now has on MV.
The employees are not happy.
Richard Vineyard HavenThe employees are not happy. They have a union representing them, and pay dues for it, for this exact circumstance. When Management exploits, and proves difficult to negotiate with, the employees thankfully have a choice. The choice here is to strike until Management pays a living wage, and provides adequate benefits to their employees. I would never shop at Stop & Shop if their employees, my neighbors, don't want me to because of injustices from the top. Let's take the "& Shop" away, and just "Stop" until Management rewards our fellow islanders for their hard work in a way they can be satisfied. The millions of dollars lost in this strike could have been used for the wages and benefits. Power to the people, yo!
Many companies would like to
Chris EdgartownMany companies would like to setup here. the Edgartown store is one of S&S most successful. However there’s limited land to build the megastore that most of these companies want.
The state agreement that
Ken EDG.The state agreement that raises the minimum wage to 15 bucks an hour removes the time and a half for Sunday and holiday work. Blame the state if you want to blame someone.
I did some shopping at Roche
RT Vineyard HavenI did some shopping at Roche Brothers last week, and spoke to a clerk while there. A Stop & Shop is just up the road. He said that RB pays considerably more per hours, but if people are looking for benefits, then S&S is the place to be. Now S&S wants to cut those benefits, leaving employees with less benefits than before, and a lesser pay rate than the competition.
I really really really wish
Year Rounder My one homeI really really really wish this was happening in August. Then again, who knows, maybe it will be? I am your typical local low wage earner and there is no way I am crossing those picket lines. I am not a WIC recipient, and I hope those on strike not only forgive those who are for crossing the lines, but also help carry their bags. They are in the same situation you are. A statement from the strikers saying they understand and encourage those on WIC, or those who have no other feasible option but to shop at stop and shop, to continue shopping without hard feelings would go a long way. And those of us who are just inconvenienced and out a couple hundred bucks for standing with the employees will continue to stand along side you. It seems an odd concept, this idea that those who cross the lines may be your biggest supporters, but have little choice.
For all of you supporting the
Mr. B ChilmarkFor all of you supporting the union workers while they are on strike, you might consider supporting them when they are not on strike. And they way you do that is by not shopping at non-union places when you have the choice.
The corporate consolidation
Louis ManhattanThe corporate consolidation of groceries in the name of efficiency, when controlled by the adversaries of the people will one day become the greatest nightmare in the free economy
why am I expected to fight
Clark Oak Bluffswhy am I expected to fight the S&S employees fight? Will the strikers give me some cash to offset Croneigs prices? I have a family to feed. Peace.
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