There won't be a strike by Acme Markets employees, at least
not for the next few months.
Acme union members in Pennsylvania voted to extend their old
contract until August 30 during a meeting Sunday night at Temple University's
Liacouras Center. With the old contract now extended, the company won't be able
to terminate it until September 30.
While the strike was avoided, the union members also voted
down the company's current contract proposal.
There has been "very slight" progress in contract
negotiations between Acme and the union despite more than a dozen sessions
since last month, according to Wendell W. Young, IV, president of the United
Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776.
Young said the big issues -- raises, health benefits and
pensions – remain major sticking points.
Union workers have gone more than 2 years without a contract
extension. Young said workers have not had a raise in over 7 years, their
health fund is in danger of running out of money, and the company is
underfunding pensions.
Acme has said that Local 1776 healthcare costs are higher
than costs for other union locals that represent Acme workers in other states,
according to reports.
Back in April, Acme and Local 1776 agreed to a 60-day period
for negotiations after Acme had threatened to terminate the contract.
Acme, whose parent company is New Albertsons Inc., operates
110 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The
grocery-store company employs 10,000 people.
Local 1776 represents some 2,900 Acme workers in
Pennsylvania.
Source: NBC10
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