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Cashiers and clerks employed at more than two dozen Acme supermarkets in southern New Jersey, including Cumberland County, could walk off the job late next week.

The employees, belonging to the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1360, overwhelmingly authorized a strike in a vote Tuesday night. Negotiations between the union and the supermarket chain are scheduled to resume on Nov. 19, and workers could start striking that same day, union officials have said.

Both sides have been unable to agree on a new contract since the current five-year one expired in April.

The Berlin, Camden County, union represents about 2,400 cashiers and clerks at stores in Cumberland, Burlington, Salem, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties.

The supermarkets in Cumberland County are in Bridgeton, Millville and Vineland, an Acme spokeswoman said.

Local 1360 President Sam Ferraino could not be reached for comment Wednesday. He has previously said that the union is concerned about health care benefits and salaries.

Acme's parent company, the Minneapolis-based Supervalu Inc., said a move to strike is not in the best interest of its employees or the ongoing negotiations.

"That said, we remain committed to working together with the union at the bargaining table and we have every reason to believe we can achieve a mutually beneficial contract without a labor dispute," the company said in a statement. "We all know that nobody wins in a strike - not our employees, our company or our customers."

Acme this year has contracts with other unions, including UFCW Local 152 in Hammonton. That union represents about 1,880 meat cutters, produce workers and other back-end Acme employees in southern New Jersey, including in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties.

The union is preparing to sit down with Acme again when its five-year contract for cashiers and clerks expires early next year, said Local 152 President Brian String.

He said negotiations can commence once Local 1360 resolves its talks with Acme, which he hopes can happen soon.

"In this economy, nobody needs to be out of work," String said.

Contact Erik Ortiz:

609-272-7253

EOrtiz@pressofac.com

 

3 comments:

• roller137 (269) posts 10:24 am

  That would really hurt the six or seven shoppers that actually go to the ACME in Somers Point. The prices are horrendous, and they have like two check-out lines open "All at one time"! wow! How could anyone really be serious about striking this year? and this close to Christmas? I think all labor unions need to have a reality check this year, and start looking for job security now and higher wages when the money comes back.

• joisey (238) posts 8:36 am

  I would gladly take one of their greedy postions! so many are losing their homes...what are they fighting for? having ANY health coverage these days is something they should be thankful for. they going for an extra dollar? these strikers should hang their heads in shame while they walk around with their stupid signs.

• jabe0312 (4) posts 7:54 pm

  Anyone striking in this economy should be ashamed. They should be replaced. There are plenty of people looking for any kind of work who can replace them.....not like it takes any special skills.

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