Stop and Shop Strike Looms for Seekonk Stores

SEEKONK, MA — Stop and Shop workers may strike this weekend if they don’t reach a new contract agreement with management.

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A strike could affect the company’s two Seekonk stores. Stop and Shop has posted online advertisements for temporary workers at $16 an hour for some of its Massachusetts stores.

Local unions representing Stop and Shop workers in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut are expected to vote on a new contract this weekend with Ahold, Stop and Stop’s Netherlands-based parent company.

Workers said they want raises and fair healthcare premiums included in the contract. Management said they will negotiate in good faith.

“It is important that any agreement responds to the competitive challenges facing our industry and puts our people and our divisions in the strongest possible position to succeed,” Stop and Shop said in a statement. “We have a long history of reaching contracts with the unions that represent our Associates without any disruption to their work or customer service and we have no reason to believe that this time will be any different.”

Stop and Shop operates about 120 Massachusetts stores.