Stop & Shop strike: What you need to know

April 18-- Apr. 18--What are the issues?

Here are some of the disagreements between the United Food & Commercial Workers International and Stop & Shop:

Pay

UFCW says: Time-and-a-half pay on Sundays and holidays will be phased out.

Stop & Shop says: No changes to Sunday time-and-a-half for full- and part-time workers in Rhode Island.

In Massachusetts, where the state is phasing out the Sunday pay requirement, the company will continue to pay time and a half to current full-time employees.

For part-timers in Massachusetts, the "half" amount will be frozen. As they get raises, part-timers will earn their higher base rate on Sunday plus half their former base rate. New employees working on Sunday will get their base pay plus a premium of less than half their base pay.

Everyone will get raises, except for 100 who will get an annual bonus.

Health insurance

UFCW says: Over the next three years, full-time employees will pay $893 more in health insurance premiums. Part-time employees will pay $603 more over the three years.

1,000 employees' spouses will not be covered because their employers offer health plans. Some of those spouses will suffer a drop in coverage.

Stop & Shop says: After 12 years with no increases, employee premiums will increase each year by as little as $2 a week to as much as $4 a week.

Spouses are eligible unless their own employer offers health coverage.

Company will pay 88% to 92% for health coverage. Most other employers pay 72% to 80%.

Deductibles would not change. Pharmacy co-pays would face "limited increases."

No provider or network changes.

Pensions

UFCW says: Newly hired full-time employees will see 32% decrease in monthly benefit while part-timers will see reduction up to 72.2%.

Stop & Shop says: Pension benefits that employees have already earned will not be touched; the proposal does not address future workers.

Keeping pension benefits for all employees, paid entirely by the company.

Company will increase its contribution to the pension fund by 20% at no cost to workers.

What's happening to all the Easter flowers?

Stop & Shop spokeswoman Jennifer Brogan said that Stop & Shop stores have sold some of their flower stock to other stores, and Stop & Shop stores, such as the one in Greenville, have donated their flower stock to local nursing homes.

When will the strike end?

The state's last major strike, at Rhode Island and Hasbro Children's Hospitals in July, may have lulled people into a false sense of orderliness about labor strikes. Nurses and allied professionals, unhappy with a contract proposal from the hospitals, announced a three-day strike. The hospitals announced that unionized workers would be off the job a fourth day because of the hospital's contract with a company that brought in replacement workers. After the three-day strike and one-day lockout, the sides returned to the bargaining table and struck a deal.

That's no such script for the Stop & Shop strike, which entered its seventh day Wednesday. Although the union can change its strategy at any time, the strike is not expected to end until the company and its workers come to terms on a contract.

How many workers are on strike in Rhode Island?

About 3,500 Stop & Shop workers in Rhode Island are union members.

What's happening to perishable food in the stores?

Company spokeswoman Jennifer Brogan said that Stop & Shop is donating fresh produce, meat and dairy before the food can go bad. The food is being donated to regional food banks for distribution to local food pantries.

Andrew Schiff, chief executive of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, said that the system for the grocery store to donate to the food bank has been long established and happens year-round, not just because of the strike. "Stop & Shop is our single largest food donor throughout the year," Schiff said. He said he has not seen a spike in food volume from Stop & Shop because of the strike, though he noted it's still early. Schiff said that his food bank distributes food to 158 member agencies who run food pantries and meal programs throughout the state.

Brogan said the company made a donation to Schiff's food bank Tuesday.

What's up with the gas stations and gas points?

All Stop & Shop gas stations are closed during the strike. Points that shoppers at the grocery store can use for discounts at the gas stations have an expiration date, but Brogan said the company will give a 30-day extension for gas points and will notify customers by email.

During the strike, Stop & Shop gas points can be used at Shell stations, which previously had honored the supermarket's points.

Is Peapod still delivering?

Yes, Peapod is delivering to Stop & Shop customers, according to Brogan, but there have been delays. She said that customers should check their email for information about delivery delays. Peapod is a separate company from Stop & Shop, but both are owned by Dutch conglomerate Ahold Delhaize.

Who is on strike?

Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

Why?

The union and the company disagree on pay, pension and health-care issues.

When did the strike begin?

Thursday at 1:15 p.m.

How many stores are involved?

27 in Rhode Island, plus stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Store in New York and New Jersey are not involved.

Are stores open during the strike?

The company says most stores in Rhode Island and across New England remain open during the strike, but on modified hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What about the banks and pharmacies in the stores?

The company says that all bank branches and pharmacies in stores are open, regardless of whether the store is operating. Customers wishing to use a bank or pharmacy in a store that is closed should go to the door and someone will let them in. Pharmacies will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bank branches will be open their regular hours.

Is it safe to go to Stop & Shop?

The company says it has security at all stores and police at some stores, as needed.

Who owns Stop & Shop?

The supermarket chain is owned by Dutch food conglomerate Ahold Delhaide.

Have a question about the strike? Email Paul Parker at pparker@providencejournal.com with the subject line "Stop & Shop question."

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