Stop & Shop workers OK possible strike
AARON LEO aleo@ctpost.com 

NEW HAVEN - Eighteen percent of the state's Stop & Shop Co. workers
have voted unanimously to strike if they must start paying for their
health insurance.

The Monday vote was 900-0 rejecting the Massachussetts-based chain's
health care proposal, said Brian Petronella, president of Local 371 of
United Food & Commercial Workers Union. As many as 5,000 workers were
eligible to vote, he said.

It took place at the Omni Hotel.

The rank and file then voted 900-0 to strike if the company did not
withdraw the proposal before the contract expires Feb. 18, Petronella
said. The earliest day they could strike would be midnight that day.

After hearing of the vote, Stop & Shop spokeswoman Faith Weiner said,
"Obviously, we're disappointed that Local 371 chose to take a strike
vote at this time, before both parties have had an opportunity to
negotiate.

"We put a comprehensive proposal on the table," she said.

Petronella said the company's plan would require full-time workers to
pay $11 a week for themselves, $15.40 a week with a child, $17.50 a week
for a spouse and $22.70 a week for a family plan; part-time workers
would pay $9.50 a week. Those payments would increase over the three
years of the proposed contract.

Stop & Shop currently pays the full premium, $612 a month for full-time
workers' insurance, including family members, Petronella said.

Employees already have annual deductibles of $300 per person for health
costs, and $2,500 for hospital costs.

In Connecticut, about 15,000 workers could strike. Workers in Rhode
Island and Massachussetts could also strike.
Stop & Shop has 43,000 union workers total in the three states.

Negotiations resume today, Weiner said.

Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6222.