Union: Teamsters Local 25, Stop & Shop, reach tentative agreement for associates at Stop & Shop’s Freetown distribution center

(Freetown, Mass.) — Teamsters Local 25 and Stop & Shop today reached a tentative agreement on a new, six-year contract for associates at Stop & Shop’s Freetown distribution center, according to the union. As a result, and pending ratification, the Freetown distribution center will continue operations, preserving more than 900 union jobs.

The union stated that both Teamsters and Stop & Shop officials engaged in multiple discussions over the past several days to reach an agreement that would support our associates and align with the company’s strategy of improving the customer experience and lowering prices. Teamsters Local 25 associates working at the Freetown distribution center will have the opportunity to ratify the new contract within the next week.

“I am thrilled that we were able to work together on a new contract that both provides an outstanding package of wages and benefits to our associates and supports us in our strategy of improving the customer experience by reducing operating costs,” said Roger Wheeler, President of Stop & Shop. “Stop & Shop continues to put care for our people at the forefront of everything we do, and we are proud to continue our legacy as one of the region’s largest union employers in the retail business.”

“Today our membership at Stop & Shop achieved the strongest contract in the supermarket industry,” said Thomas G. Mari, President of Teamsters Local 25. “We are proud of our members’ solidarity and commitment to remain united throughout negotiations. The final agreement not only contained significant increases in wages and working conditions but also provided job security to more than 900 Teamsters for the foreseeable future. We encourage all citizens to utilize Stop & Shop for the best groceries available in New England.”