Contract Negotiations

A&P Contract Negotiations

In the April 2008 edition of the Sentinel UFCW Local 464A President, John T. Niccollai addressed the negotiation of the A&P Contract that will take place during the fall. The contract covers over 8,000 full and part-time members. In his message Nicollai remarked that A&P has made a major transformation of the concept it presents to the consuming public. In order to strengthen the customer base store facilities have been upgraded, quality improved and pricing made more competitive. The company also completed the acquisition of Pathmark, which substantially increased market share.

"The A&P negotiations will be extremely difficult since we will be facing a need for monumental increases in pension and welfare contributions. We also seek substantial wage increases and improvements in working conditions. Your Local Union will be guided by the demands submitted by A&P members at the meetings that we (will) hold later this year."

Kings Super Markets, Inc. (Kings New Concept)

On October 29, 2007 the elected Contract Negotiating Committee along with the elected Officers of Local 464A, announced a unanimous vote to report and recommend the approval of the Company’s final offer submitted by Kings/Kings New Concept.

“Your elected Contract Negotiating Committee, through several weeks of hard-fought negotiations, is pleased to report that we were able to beat back all concessions and givebacks submitted by your employer. We are especially pleased to present this outstanding final contract offer which provides substantial improvement in the area of wages, increased funding for our health and welfare programs with no co-pay, and improvements in our Pension program for full-time and part-time employees close to retirement.”

Correspondence including a stamped self-addressed envelope containing a ballot and secret ballot envelope was sent to members on October 29, 2007. Members were urged to vote YES in favor of the final offer, to return the ballot immediately, and no later than November 8, 2007, in order to be counted.

The following committee members were commended for a job well done:

Kerry Alden
David Dunn
Kathleen M. Mangearelli
Manny Melon

Foodtown, Pathmark, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop

In June UFCW Local 464A commenced negotiations on behalf of 8,000 full and part time members working at the following companies:

• Foodtown
• Pathmark
• Shop Rite
• Stop & Shop

Almost half of the Local Union’s membership was involved with these Collective Bargaining Agreements. As expected the negotiations were extremely difficult. However, through intensive debate, the UFCW Local 464A Contract Negotiating Committee was able to beat back all concessions and givebacks sought by the employers. Further, the Committee successfully secured substantial improvements in wages, funding for health and welfare programs with no co-pay, and improvements in the pension program for full-time and part-time employees close to retirement. In a letter to members recommending the approval of the new contract, Local 464A President John T. Niccollai, Secretary-Treasurer Ramon Rando and Recorder Frank Hanley, Jr. wrote:

These accomplishments are most significant in light of the fact that many of our companies within the supermarket industry are experiencing financial difficulties and some of the recent UFCW contracts negotiated nationally contained co-payments and wage freezes.

On August 21 the companies’ final offer was submitted to the members for approval and on August 31 a final tally of votes resulted in overwhelming acceptance. See your Shop Steward or Union Agent for details of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The following Committee members are commended for a job well done: