PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A strike by Hannaford grocery distribution workers in South Portland could potentially impact Hannaford stores and affiliated grocers in Aroostook County.
Almost 250 unionized workers at Hannaford’s distribution complex in South Portland voted last Saturday to authorize a strike if additional contract negotiations fail to reach an accord.
Early Wednesday morning, Feb. 21, members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1445 who work at the Hannaford Distribution center in South Portland launched a 24-hour strike, according to a press release issued by Matt Schlobohm of the Maine AFL-CIO. Workers want “to secure a fair deal that improves their lives, strengthens their communities and protects future workers,” Schlobohm said.
Local 1445 represents the workers. The union recently saw its a three-year contract for distribution workers expire with Hannaford parent company Ahold Delhaize.
After weeks of negotiations, the grocery company offered workers a new three-year contract with a 50-cent annual wage increase but a $4 per hour reduction in the starting wage for new hires, the Bangor Daily News reported Feb. 19.
“If the company doesn’t meet with us this week or doesn’t show any movement at the bargaining table we may have to have a job action,” Jim Carvalho, political director of UFCW 1445, told the BDN.
Carvalho said the workers are seeking a high annual raise, less expensive health insurance plans and the elimination of the reduced starting wage.
The strike could disrupt supplies in Hannaford stores across northern New England.
There are five Hannaford-affiliated grocers in Aroostook County, in Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou, Madawaska and Fort Kent. Hannaford store managers in Aroostook County referred questions about the potential impact of the strike to the company’s corporate office.
Christy Phillips-Brown, spokesperson for Hannaford parent company Delhaize America Distribution, said that company and union officials will meet again for mediation on Monday, Feb. 26.
“We have been advised there will not be a strike at this facility pending mediation,” Phillips-Brown said. “We’re committed to supplying our clients.”
