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A union representing workers at Stop & Shop in Massachusetts voted in favor of a strike after the employees' contract expired at midnight.
Local 1445 of United Food and Commercial Workers voted Sunday morning to authorize a potential strike at its meeting at Randolph. It is the first of five unions representing Stop & Shop workers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut to authorize a strike.
The other four should do the same, according to Local 1445 President Jeff Bollen.
The vote took place a few hours after the expiry of the three-year employee contract at midnight. The UFCW 1445 represents 10,000 Stop & Shop workers in Massachusetts.
Bollen said the contract negotiations would continue over the next few weeks, but that the vote gives the union the power to call a strike at any time. The union asked members to continue working in the meantime.
"There will be a high percentage of strikes this year," Bollen said in a video posted on Facebook. "Society does not seem to back down, it is categorical about its proposals."
Stop & Shop said in a statement that it would continue negotiations next week.
The grocery chain said it was one of the few remaining unionized grocers in New England and was forced to compete with non-unionized companies such as Market Basket, Wegman's and Trader Joe's, whose hand costs were much lower.
"We look forward to fruitful discussions with unions next week and remain committed to reaching new agreements as soon as possible," the company said.
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