31,000 Stop & Shop employees go on strike

By Jordan Mazza

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Stop & Shop comes to a stop.

Union employees of the supermarket chain across southern New England walked off the job Thursday.

That includes the newest of employees at the North Providence store, like Armin von Heyden.

“Well, today is my first day at work at Stop & Shop,” said von Heyden, of Lincoln. “And I’m on strike.”

And it also includes longtime employees like Stephen Rhault.

“This is stuff we’ve worked 30 years for,” he said.

It’s all because of a dispute that’s left workers without a contract since February.

“Stop & Shop didn’t want to talk anymore,” said Rhault, a meat manager. “They gave us a final offer, and the final offer was a joke. I don’t think they take it seriously.”

Workers say their biggest concerns are around proposed cuts to take home pay, healthcare, and pensions.

Those issues inspired even some customers – who couldn’t shop at the store today — to join in on the protest.

“Companies are making more and more money, and working people are falling behind,” said Fil Eden of Wakefield. “And that’s what these guys are standing up for, and I’m going to come walk with them and make sure they get it.”

In a statement this afternoon, Stop & Shop says it has a plan in place to minimize customer impact during the strike.

The company says it’s still in negotiations with the union, and is disappointed that workers chose to strike.

Employees, however, say this was a message they needed to send.

“Negotiate and come up with a fair contract,” Rhault said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Employees at the North Providence store say they plan to strike through the night.

©WLNE-TV/ABC6