Posts Categorized: Grocery

About 20 members of UFCW Local 1262 who are employed as maintenance workers at a ShopRite store in East Orange, N.J., ratified their first contract on Nov. 12. 

The five-year contract includes wage increases and strong health and welfare benefits. This first contract provides these hard-working men and women with life insurance, pre-paid legal, and vision and dental coverage even for part-timers. The contract also includes premium pay for the night crew, as well as vacation, sick and jury leave time and a defined contribution plan for retirement.

The workers joined UFCW Local 1262 in March this year because they wanted the same wages and benefits as their unionized colleagues who work in the front-end of the store and in the meat and deli section.

“We are so proud to be able to represent these folks,” said UFCW Local 1262 President Harvey Whille. “They saw all the benefits other workers in the store were receiving because they had a union.  They wanted the same quality of life for themselves and their families and spoke up by voting to join Local 1262, and then by voting ‘YES’ to their first-ever contract.  We salute our newest members and look forward to representing them and others who want their fair share of the American Dream.”

Over 2,100 members of UFCW Local 152 who are employed as retail clerks at ShopRite stores in New Jersey ratified a new contract on Oct. 20 that protects health care benefits and raises wages. 

The four-year contract, which covers Shoprite stores owned by Bottino’s Family Markets, Perlmart Inc., and Village Supermarkets, Inc., maintains no-cost-sharing of medical benefits for the lifetime of the contract. The contract also establishes paid sick days for members, a new benefit made possible with the introduction of the New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Law. Effective upon ratification, ShopRite retail clerks can accrue up to 40 hours per year of paid sick time, which, if unused at the end of the year, can also be cashed out. This sick time is in addition to all other forms of paid time off that members currently receive.

The contract also includes immediate, retroactive across-the-board wage increases, as well as additional across-the-board increases throughout the life of the contract. Most department heads and classified positions will also receive an increased premium to reward their commitment and skills. Finally, in addition to better clarifying language throughout the contract, ShopRite has agreed to continue to contribute to the pension fund (for eligible employees) at an increased rate for the life of the agreement.

Members of the Negotiating Committee included UFCW Local 152 President Brian String; Director of Collective Bargaining Daniel Ross, Jr.: Director of Communications Mike Thompson; and Union Representative Carmine DelVicario. The committee also included 14 shop stewards: Jodie Hampton-Veach; Maricella Brown; Betty-Ann Brown; William Pitts; Frank Farside; Charles Vitullo; Nancy Riess; Ed Stapleton; John Puesi; Bob Hawkins; Karen Drammissi; Christine Scherm; Diane Haug; and Kelli Wehmann.