13 UFCW/RWDSU Locals Ratify New A&P Agreement

13 UFCW/RWDSU Local Unions Overwhelmingly Ratify New A&P/Pathmark Agreement

UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both announced that the thirteen UFCW/RWDSU Locals participating in the A&P/Pathmark contract modification negotiations have ratified the new collective bargaining agreement. The following are the total votes cast:

7200 Voted 'Yes' to Accept the Contract Modifications

1827 Voted 'No' to Reject the Contract Modifications

“We know the past year was an extremely difficult time for UFCW Local 1500 members employed by Pathmark.  All of us at the Union are very grateful for the support and patience shown by the Pathmark workers.  While we all recognize the changes to the Pathmark contract are substantial, we are pleased that we were able to conclude this process with our Health Insurance and Pension programs unchanged.   Additionally, several provisions of the new agreement will expire during the life of the contract and will not have to be negotiated back in 2016.   Also, management proposals to gut the job protection language in your contracts were completely defeated," President Both stated.

“While I acknowledge that we now must move forward, we must also remain vigilant and united every day. We expect that early next year A&P/Pathmark will emerge from bankruptcy.  The new management team at A&P/Pathmark must listen to the voices of the workers if they are to have any chance to once again be a growing and successful supermarket.  However, as we have said in the past, Local 1500 will remain cautious and will be ready to protect our Union members jobs should A&P/Pathmark management take any actions we believe to be counter-productive to its success and harmful to our membership.”

“The key to our future is solidarity and unity.  Without that, I have no doubt that thousands of Pathmark workers today would be seeking new jobs during a horrible economy rather than going to their stores knowing their working conditions far exceed those of non-union companies like Walmart, BJ's and Target.  By remaining unified we can work to undo the difficult, but necessary, changes to this contract when we negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement in 2016.  Again, on behalf of the entire staff and leadership of UFCW Local 1500, I thank you for your for patience, support, and most importantly, your solidarity."