As Deadline Nears, Grocery Talks Focus on Wages

Giant's Supa Tong, left, frets over costs for her family: mother Payam Dafflisio, husband Chris Sexton and daughters Sumanee Gosakwattana and Amanda Cox. (By Mark Gail -- Post)
Buy Photo

Stop & Shop and five UFCW locals agreed on a new contract this month after heated debate over health-care coverage that led the union to authorize a strike, though it never took place. The compromise requires full-time workers to pay part of their health-care premiums; though part-time workers, who typically earn less money, would be exempt. The three-year contract also includes raises for all employees and reduced the time some part-time workers must wait to become eligible for health-care benefits from two years to one.

According to the source close to the negotiations, Giant, Safeway and the unions are considering a similar health-care plan. But no matter what compromise may be reached this time, the same issues are likely to reemerge during future negotiations. That's because neither the competitive pressures in the industry nor the rising cost of medical care are expected to let up any time soon, Lichtenstein said.

"We're entering a recessionary environment," Lichtenstein said. "A win for labor these days is just holding the line on what they have."

Tong, the Giant employee, said she hopes the contract will allow new employees to have the same benefits that she does. She wants them to be as passionate about her job as she is, despite the economic pressures.

"I still love my work," she said. "People think I'm crazy. Nobody loves their job. But I do."

Staff researcher Richard S. Drezen contributed to this report.