The unions teamed up to testify in the General Law Committee’s public hearing today, March 4th, in support of a bill that could ban electronic shelf labels and surveillance pricing. Under current law, retailers are allowed to employ electronic shelf tags and combine that with AI algorithms to make shoppers pay different prices for the same item. Seems too sci fi to be true? It’s not. Retailers can gather information on individual shoppers based on their shopping habits, internet search history, income and other factors and make a determination about how much they are willing to pay. They then can determine when that shopper is in their store using facial recognition software or cell phone location trackers. The electronic shelf labels allow them to change the price tag in real time, making it possible for two shoppers in the store at the same time to pay different prices for the same item. Electronic shelf labels eliminate good jobs and are bad for consumers, and the UFCW is fighting to stop this technology from happening throughout the country.

Local 371 member Roberta Green testified, along with Secretary Treasurer Keri Hoehne, Jake Serafini, Jose Anaya, and representatives and members from Local 919.

We are happy to announce that Local 371 union members from Stop & Shop voted to accept a new 4 year contract that provides for yearly raises and a more equitable wage scale that honors the knowledge and commitment by higher seniority employees. This contract addresses challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence and other technology, increases the minimum hours for more part time members, and protects our strong and affordable healthcare coverage. Additionally this contract facilitates the return of fresh cut meat with a new meat cutting apprenticeship program. Our passionate committee of Roberta Green, Lucy Sciarretto, Doug Senn, Lorenzo Mancuso, and Eileen Antolini were tireless in their efforts to force the company to listen to the voices of their coworkers and we are thankful for their leadership and the leadership of the committees of all five New England UFCW Stop & Shop locals.

Your bargaining team is pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative four-year agreement, concluding the most recent round of contract negotiations.

In addition to annual wage increases, this proposed agreement preserves the strength and stability of our health insurance and pension benefits, maintaining the high standards that our membership has worked hard to achieve. Throughout negotiations, your bargaining team remained focused on securing an agreement that reflects the priorities expressed by members and protects the long-term economic security of working families.

Your strength and unity at every stage of negotiations made this outcome possible.

As previously announced, the agreement will be presented to the membership for a ratification vote. The vote will take place on Sunday, February 15 at 10am at 100 Capital Blvd in Rocky Hill.