Westport Food Union Threatens Stop & Shop Strike

The Westport-based United Food and Commercial Workers Union has threatened to strike Stop & Shop supermarkets in Connecticut and western Massachusetts if the company doesn’t change its position in current negotiations.

The union’s contract is scheduled to expire at midnight Feb. 14.

Brian A. Petronella, president of Local 371, which has its office on Post Road West, in a written statement accused Stop & Shop officials of proposing "outrageous givebacks that would destroy health care benefits, pension benefits and wage scales."

He said unless the company changes its position, he will urge workers to vote to strike.

The union represents about 5,000 Stop & Shop workers in the meat, deli and fish departments.

Stop & Shop officials confirmed they are negotiating but cited a policy against discussing contract specifics, according to the New Haven Register.