St. Louis Grocers, Union Reach Tentative Deal
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The union representing 9,500 grocery workers at Dierbergs Markets Inc, Schnuck Markets Inc., and Shop 'n Save, all based here, have tentatively inked a new labor pact that will apparently sidestep a repeat performance of a bitter strike that occurred in 2003.
Although few details of the tentative pact were available at press time, local reports said the contract between the Ballwin, Mo.-based United Food & Commercial Workers Local 655 and the three supermarket chains, which bargained jointly as the Greater St. Louis Food Employers' Council, covers 56 Schnucks stores and 5,000 workers; 21 Dierbergs stores and 2,500 workers; and 24 Shop 'n Save stores with 2,000 workers.
The current 47-month contract expired May 13. Contract ratification meetings for members of UFCW Local 655 -- which represents retail food and non-food, healthcare, manufacturing, packers, distribution centers, laboratories, office workers, and hair care workers -- are tentatively set for Sept. 5.
The provisional pact was reached amid ongoing expansion efforts of Wal-Mart, which is expected to eventually place about 35 new or replacement supercenters in the area.
In 2003, the St. Louis grocery industry was rocked by a 25-day labor strike and lockout. The first major grocery labor dispute in the area occurred largely as a result of concessions the three local chains said they needed from workers to remain competitive against Wal-Mart. During the dispute, grocers reduced store hours and reduced hours or partially closed most perimeter service departments.
Although few details of the tentative pact were available at press time, local reports said the contract between the Ballwin, Mo.-based United Food & Commercial Workers Local 655 and the three supermarket chains, which bargained jointly as the Greater St. Louis Food Employers' Council, covers 56 Schnucks stores and 5,000 workers; 21 Dierbergs stores and 2,500 workers; and 24 Shop 'n Save stores with 2,000 workers.
The current 47-month contract expired May 13. Contract ratification meetings for members of UFCW Local 655 -- which represents retail food and non-food, healthcare, manufacturing, packers, distribution centers, laboratories, office workers, and hair care workers -- are tentatively set for Sept. 5.
The provisional pact was reached amid ongoing expansion efforts of Wal-Mart, which is expected to eventually place about 35 new or replacement supercenters in the area.
In 2003, the St. Louis grocery industry was rocked by a 25-day labor strike and lockout. The first major grocery labor dispute in the area occurred largely as a result of concessions the three local chains said they needed from workers to remain competitive against Wal-Mart. During the dispute, grocers reduced store hours and reduced hours or partially closed most perimeter service departments.