Stop & Shop supermarkets: Tentative deals reached with 5 New England labor unions; vote Sunday

Stop & Shop reaches deals with 5 NE labor unions

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Stop & Shop supermarkets chain has reached tentative agreements with five labor unions in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The unions have scheduled Sunday meetings for votes by their members, who’ve been without contracts since Friday. The unions say they won’t strike unless workers reject the agreements.

Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC had been negotiating with the locals since January. It says it’s pleased to have met its goal of tentative agreements offering workers competitive wages and retirement benefits and access to quality health care.

Providence, R.I., union spokesman Jim Riley says the membership will decide whether to accept or reject the contracts.

Stop & Shop operates more than 350 supermarkets in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire and New Jersey. It’s based in Quincy, Mass.