CLIFTON, NJ –

It looks like employees of United Food and Commercial
Workers Local 1262 have a tentative contract with their employees. The
union represents workers at ShopRite and Pathmark stores in Ulster,
Orange and Rockland counties as well as thousands more in other chains
in New Jersey.

Union President Harvey Whille said the negotiating committees accepted
the tentative agreement because it did not change health and welfare
benefits during the new term, provides “adequate funding to ensure
that the Pension Fund continues to remain viable and provides for a fair
wage increase.”

Whille said the union won everything they wanted in the negotiations.
They obtained the same contract for all members regardless of where they
work and they maintained the level of benefits, “which is a
significant feat considering the fact that health care costs continue to
increase annually and the state of the world’s investment markets.”

Four union meetings will be held next week for members to review and
vote on the agreement.