• Home
• News
• Latest News

Contract talks were set to end late Friday between Acme supermarkets and the union representing cashiers and clerks at more than a dozen locations in southern New Jersey, including Cumberland County.

But it was unclear before The Press' deadline whether a contract agreement had been reached, or if members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1360 would walk off the job as soon as today. Members voted overwhelmingly Nov. 10 to strike should talks break down this week.

The supermarket chain and the union have been unable to agree on a new contract since April, when the current five-year one expired. The two sides resumed talks Thursday.

But as of Friday afternoon, there were no further negotiation dates on deck, Acme spokeswoman Gail Street said.

Local 1360, based in Berlin Township, Camden County, has about 2,400 members working as cashiers and clerks at Acmes in Cumberland, Burlington, Salem, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties. Also included in the negotiations are workers from lower Bucks County, Pa.

In Cumberland County, the union represents the cashiers and clerks at the Acme in Bridgeton, Local 1360 President Sam Ferraino said.

He was unavailable for further comment Friday but has said the union wants secure health care benefits and salaries. He would like members to be able to join a new health care plan that he believes will save Acme money, but the supermarket will not agree to it, he said.

Minneapolis-based Supervalu Inc., Acme's parent company, has said it wants to work out "a mutually beneficial contract without a labor dispute" and that "nobody wins in a strike."

Acme resolved contract talks this year with other unions, including UFCW Local 152 in Hammonton, which represents meat cutters, produce workers and other back-end employees at Acmes throughout southern New Jersey.

In September, Local 152 members ratified a new four-year contract that included wage increases, an increase in pension contributions by Acme totaling 36 percent over four years and a protection of workers' health benefits.

But the union must sit down with Acme early next year, when its five-year contract for cashiers and clerks expires. That would involve workers at 17 stores, including locations in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties, Local 152 officials said.

Depending on what happens with Acme and Local 1360, however, the start of those negotiations next year could be delayed.

Contact Erik Ortiz:

609-272-7253

EOrtiz@pressofac.com

2 comments:

• kl1dad (1) posts 3:32 pm

  In response to south jersey girl,it would help if you had the facts before you post a comment. The union members aren't asking for more benefits or a higher wages, they are trying to keep Acme from taking away what they already have. And before you say others are paying towards their health care premiums, the Facts are 1360 members always took less in hourly wages in exchange for better health care benefits. You are right this isn't exactly skilled labor, but just try doing some of their jobs before commenting so negatively.

• SouthJerseyGirl (67) posts 10:05 am

  Please, by all means, walk off the job during the holidays. What a brain trust this is! Have you seen the record unemployment in the nation? Have you not realized that NJ has the highest unemployment in the region? Cashiers and clerks are NOT skilled labor. Any teenager who needs spare change can do those jobs. So, let your union talk you into striking to get more, when more just doesn't exist. There are tens of thousands of people who will be waiting in line to take your jobs without a second thought. And see if your union will provide the funds for your holiday festivities. I'm sorry you want a new health plan, but in case you haven't noticed, hundrends of thousands of people don't have ANY health plan. Now is the time to be thankful for what you do have, not hold your employer and the community hostage because you want more. At least if you DO strike, you'll put lots of people back to work who will be happy to have whatever health plan Acme does offer. Idiots.

PressofAtlanticCity.com offers everyone the opportunity to comment on published stories. However, it is impractical for editors to screen all comments.
If you believe a comment is offensive, please click on the abuse-reporting link and your objection will be considered by an editor. We encourage participants to use their real names, but inoffensive screen names are acceptable. Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them.
Please post responsibly. Do not post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy.
Be polite. Don’t hate. Users who don’t play by the rules may be blocked from participating.

View our full terms of service and privacy agreement

Click here to report a comment as abusive.

You must login to post a new comment