Stop & Shop negotiations continue
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER

As of yesterday, talks between Stop & Shop officials and union representatives continued with no imminent strike or contract ratification expected in the short term. Jim Riley, secretary and treasurer for Local 328 of the United Food & Commercial Workers, which represents 10,000 members in the region, including the Nantucket store's 75 full and part-time employees, said progress is slow but showing some positive signs. The issues are insurance co-payments, wage increases and a proposal to switch from a pension plan to a 401K.

"We will exhaust all avenues before a strike," Riley said. "As long as we're still moving, we're going to keep going. We are talking. We're exchanging proposals. Sometimes these things take time."

Negotiations began nearly two months ago. On Sunday, Feb. 18, the island's Stop & Shop workers joined their mainland colleagues in a unanimous vote to strike if negotiations ultimately fail. If a strike occurs, the union is capable of offering each employee $100 a week and has an emergency fund to assist with housing costs or other serious life situations while the walk-out lasts.

Riley said if there is a strike the island's Stop & Shop would close along with the company's mainland markets unless management finds temporary workers to fill some positions.

"Our employees will be in the street and the Teamster drivers will not be delivering to that store," said Riley. "And they will have a very hard time operating without meat cutters - that's a skill. You can't just take somebody off the street. They'd be selling

fingers." I