As promised, we're posting some details about what Local 1459 was able to negotiate into the new contract:
Enhanced Medical Benefits include:
Full-time Local 1459 members will not see an increase for the next three (3) years in the current employee contributions: $5 single, $10 for employees plus 1 other, $15 for family.
Part-time members are currently paying $0 for health coverage but will pay $5 per week in two (2) years, on January 1, 2012 for a health plan that is compliant with the coverage set forth by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Calendar year medical maximum will be lifted for part-timers and the calendar year prescription maximum will be removed for both full and part-timers beginning January 1, 2012.
Increases short-term disability weekly max to $420 for full-timers and $135 for part-timers.
Calendar year visit maximums for treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders are being eliminated beginning in 2010.
Maximum calendar year benefit for full and part-timers for dental benefits was raised to $1500 and $1000 respectively.
Beginning January 1, 2011 until the end of the contract, out of pocket maximums were cut in half to $500/year per individual and $1000 per family.
An enhanced wellness program.
Other Improvements include:
Full-time Employees receive a year one bonus of $750 followed six (6) months later with a $10 a week wage increase. Year two (2) increases of $10 per week on 2/19/11 and $8 per week on 8/20/11. Year three (3) increases of $10 per week on 2/18/12 and $8 per week on 8/19/12.
Part-time Employees with at least two (2) years of service received a year one bonus of $400 followed by a 30¢ per hour increase in year 2 and 30¢ per hour in year 3.
Part-time Employees with at least one (1) year of service but less than two (2) years receive a $300 first year bonus and 25¢ per hour wage increase in year 2 and a 30¢ per hour increase in year 3.
Newly hired Employees with less than one(1) year of service shall receive a $100 bonus for year one, 25¢ per hour wage increase in year 2 and 30¢ an hour in year 3.
New contract language was won around sick leave, which can now be used on an hourly basis.
Won contract language around four (4) 10 hour days, and establishes them as a voluntary option for full time workers.
Pension benefits were protected for both full and part-timers.
A guaranteed 20 hour minimum work week for all part-timers, when they become participants in the Health Plan in January 2012.
UFCW Local 1459 members who work at Stop & Shop retained and strengthened their position as the best compensated supermarket workers in New England on Sunday by voting overwhelmingly, 307 to 23, to approve a new three year contract. Local 1459's president, Scott Macey, detailed improvements in wages, health, pension and other benefits to a turn out of nearly 400 workers at the Holyoke Holiday Inn. Despite Stop & Shop's tough stance at the outset, the contract protected all contract language and contained many improvements. Clearly pleased, President Macey, who served as the chief negotiator for Local 1459, explained that the union won about "92% of everything we were looking for."
President Macey explains new contract to Stop & Shop workers.President Macey started his 45 minute presentation by thanking the negotiating committee, staff, but most of all, the members, for their show of strength and solidarity by wearing their buttons and through their distribution of literature to customers. He expressed repeatedly that it wasn't the union leadership Stop & Shop was afraid of, but the 43,000 members throughout New England.
Jeff Jones, a Stop & Shop worker who served on the negotiating team, said, "I'm pleased with the outcome. If you took a look at where the company started---the company proposals were very draconian from the beginning, especially for the part-timers, attacking our health insurance and our pension plans---and we were able to reverse that and come out with a contract that preserves our health care and our pension plan. It gives us something to build on."
Executive Vice President Rick Brown praised workers for their show of solidarity, saying, "We're very proud of our membership. I think the company knew we were serious. Our people were definitely serious and they were ready to go and that made the difference, all the difference in the world in, in settling this contract."
Macey said, "Today was a very good day. We were able to present a very good package. Tremendous improvements in the health and welfare and pension plans, along with other improvements, I couldn't be happier with the outcome today."
It's now 8pm, the Local 1459 negotiating team has left Providence with a tentative agreement with Stop & Shop. We will review and discuss the agreement at our meeting on Sunday (see below for details). Again, we urge everyone to attend this meeting. Thank you for continued support and patience during this difficult process.
In Solidarity,
Scott Macey
Scott Macey, President
UFCW Local 1459
It is Saturday afternoon at 5:00 pm, our contract meeting is tomorrow and we’re yet to reach an agreement.
We are hanging tough in order to bring back the best possible package that is available. We’re at a point where the wages are the last piece on the table and we want to make sure we don’t walk away unless we get everything that we believe is available. Our goal remains to bring back an offer that is fair and equitable. That protects everything you have in your contract and makes improvements that you have earned and deserve.
Because of your unity, your strength and your connection to your customers we are still at the table. Without you we would have been gone a long time ago. Don’t underestimate your value and importance to these negotiations.
See all of you at tomorrows meeting in Holyoke. Thank you for your continued patience and support.
Remember:
Your strength is your unity and your unity is your strength.
In Solidarity,
Scott Macey
Scott Macey, President
UFCW Local 1459
We continue to press the Company for a fair and equitable contract offer. We are making serious progress especially in the areas of health & welfare and pension. But we are still far apart on wages as well as issues surrounding future new hires.
The Federal Mediators, who are at all of our negotiation sessions, have made it clear that if the company puts forth a proposal that has been improved from what was available on February 21st then we must bring it back to the membership for a vote.
All five locals are setting up meetings for Sunday March 7, 2010 anticipating that we will have a company offer to present to you for a vote.
This is a very serious time for all of our members so your presence at these meetings is important.
Our goal remains the same now as when we heard your collective voices at the February 21st meetings:
To protect what we have
To preserve what we have
To make improvements you have earned & deserve
President Scott Macey
President Rick Charette
President Mark Espinosa
President Dave Fleming
President Brian Petronella
Today, UFCW Local 1459 presented a termination notice to Stop & Shop which ends the current labor agreement effective twelve noon on Friday, March 5, 2010. Anytime thereafter, the local union can call a job action at any point and strike without any further notice. There are still issues open on wages and Stop & Shop’s demand for increased employee health care contributions. These issues, in addition to cuts to the future pension participants and cuts to future hires are unacceptable.
It is, and always has been, our intent to negotiate and not to strike in order to get a fair agreement. We do hope Stop & Shop either today or tomorrow will present a fair and reasonable offer.
Stop & Shop still contends that they pay higher wages and benefits than their non-union competitors and they do. But we will continue to fight for more and reject their cuts.
Today in an effort to move these negotiations along, and as part of our strategic plan Local 371 of Westport, Connecticut gave the company a 24 hour notice to terminate their contract.
This strategy, as well as others, is meant to compel the company to reframe their final proposals to make them more fair and equitable to all of the members of the New England Locals or face a job action.
Our goal continues to be the collective voices of Local 371, 328, 919, 1445, & 1459 working together for all of our members.
We will continue to keep you updated as situations and actions quickly develop during these late stages in these negotiations.
In Solidarity,
Scott Macey
Scott Macey, President
UFCW Local 1459
THIS MEMO IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR LOCAL 1459 STOP & SHOP MEMBERS
Negotiations are continuing with Federal Mediators as well as International Vice President & Director of Collective Bargaining Bill McDonough, working to bring both sides to an agreement.
Significant movement has been made in the areas of pension and health & welfare. Wages and the size of employee contributions to the Health & Welfare Fund continue to be stumbling blocks as we near the end of these talks. These issues will be addressed all day today.
We understand your eagerness and concern for more information as we work to conclude these difficult negotiations. We ask you to please stay patient and stick together.
Remember:
Your strength is your unity and your unity is your strength.
In Solidarity,
Scott Macey
Scott Macey, President
UFCW Local 1459
Sorry for the eleventh hour update, but nonetheless contract talks continued today into the evening, hence the late notice.
Stop & Shop is reviewing the latest set of proposals from all five New England locals on economics. Each individual local met with the Stop & Shop negotiating team to iron out remaining issues on pension and healthcare coverage. We will meet again tomorrow morning and continue to bargain as you continue to work.
Stay strong! Stay united!
Thank you for your continued solidarity.
In Solidarity,
Scott Macey, President
UFCW Local1459
