Union and Stop & Shop issue new statements concerning possible closure of Freetown warehouse, picket lines possible

(BOSTON) – The union representing Freetown warehouse workers and Stop & Shop have issued additional statements concerning healthcare and prospects of the warehouse being shut down.

Fall River Reporter obtained a statement from Tom Erickson, Teamsters Warehouse Division Director, and Thomas G. Mari, President of Teamsters Local 25 in response to a statement Reporter received by Stop & Shop last Wednesday.

“The Teamsters unequivocally condemn Stop & Shop‘s threats to subcontract work and close the Freetown, Mass., distribution center unless hardworking Teamsters give up their union health care plan.

“Ahold Delhaize — the Dutch-Belgian parent company of Stop & Shop — raked in nearly $94 billion in sales last year, but its greedy, morally bankrupt executives are demanding sacrifices from the very workers who made that success possible.

“If Stop & Shop continues down this path, threatening the livelihoods of more than 900 Teamsters, we will take action. We will extend picket lines to every Stop & Shop store in New England and bring the full force of our union to this fight.

“The Teamsters will never let a foreign-owned corporation bully American workers into accepting substandard health care. Our members will not be intimidated. We will not back down.”

Stop & Shop issued the following statement in response to Tom Erickson.

“Stop & Shop always bargains in good faith, and we stand ready and available to meet with Teamsters Local 25 at any time.

“Stop & Shop is driving forward a multi-year strategy that includes efforts to lower prices and improve the in-store experience. An important component of this is reducing overall costs – and that includes the high operational costs at our distribution facility in Freetown, Mass. Stop & Shop solicited and received third party bids showing we could achieve millions in annual savings by transferring the work done at our Freetown distribution center to a third party. Because of our commitment to our union associates, we approached Teamsters Local 25 leadership with a request to identify only a fraction of that annual savings in our new contract.

“Based on our analysis, we believe it’s possible to achieve these labor savings while still offering significant wage increases and maintaining pension benefits. We believe the savings can be achieved with a transition to a more competitive health plan, which is the same plan that management and other associates at the facility have. If a new contract that reaches the labor savings needed is not ratified by February 28th, Stop & Shop will move forward with an outsourcing agreement and close the facility. 

“This is not a decision we take lightly, and we care deeply about our associates and maintaining our presence in Freetown. It is critical that the local collaborates with us on a new agreement that achieves the savings needed to do so.”

Fall River Reporter will keep you updated on any developments.