Teamsters' Triumph: A New Deal for Stop & Shop Workers

In a significant victory for labor unions, Teamsters Local 25 has reached a tentative six-year agreement with Stop & Shop, securing substantial wage increases and preserving over 900 union jobs at the Freetown distribution center. The agreement, which guarantees the facility's long-term operation, comes after a credible strike threat and intense negotiations.

Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien praised the members' resilience, stating, "Stop & Shop tried to strong-arm our members by pushing a nonunion, substandard company health care plan, but our members refused to be intimidated by the company's corporate threats. We fought back against Stop & Shop's corporate greed and sent a clear message that our members will not be bullied into accepting anything less than what they are worth."

The agreement delivers the largest economic gains ever negotiated for Stop & Shop Teamsters. New hires will receive an 80 percent wage increase over the length of the agreement, while veteran workers will see an over 30 percent raise. Additionally, the contract preserves top-tier Teamsters health care, significantly increases pension contributions, and ensures the long-term operation of the Freetown facility.

Teamsters at Stop & Shop had the full backing of more than 30,000 United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) members, who pledged to honor Teamsters' picket lines if Stop & Shop moved forward with threats to close the facility. Elected officials, including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, also pressured the company to negotiate in good faith and protect these essential jobs.

Healey expressed her support for the agreement, stating, "I am proud to have stood with the Teamsters to ensure these good-paying union jobs stay in Massachusetts. Keeping the Freetown distribution center open while securing strong wages and benefits is a win for these workers and our entire state."

Tom Mari, President of Local 25, emphasized the importance of the agreement, saying, "We held Stop & Shop accountable and secured one of the strongest contracts in the supermarket industry. I want to thank our members for their strength, our UFCW allies for their unwavering solidarity, and the community for standing with us. This victory shows what happens when workers refuse to back down."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.