Strikers This Morning in Southern Maine.

Early this morning truckers and mechanics went on strike against Shaw’s Supermarkets.  Eighty members of the Teamsters Local Union 340 walked off the job   They are seeking better pay, retirement benefits and health coverage.

Strikers have asked customers to boycott Shaw’s Supermarkets.

Strikers claim that Albertsons Co. Inc. hasn’t been at the bargaining table since February of this year.   The Idaho-based company is the second largest chain in the country with over 2,200 stores.

“We have been bargaining in good faith with Teamsters Local 340 on a new labor agreement for our 65 drivers and mechanics who work at our Shaw’s Wells Distribution Center and are pleased to be returning to the bargaining table this week.  Since August 2020 we have participated in approximately 20 bargaining sessions including one quarter of these sessions with a federal moderator in attendance.  We remain committed to reaching an agreement that recognizes the tremendous value  our associates provide to the company’s current and future successes.  Our current proposal is consistent with our outlined goals, setting forth industry leading contract improvements, yet it was not presented to the membership for a vote for approval.  We look forward to our employees returning to work this week.

Our customers can be assured that throughout this process, we will continue to provide the unmatched customer service they have come to expect from Shaw’s.  We are prepared for this labor dispute and will continue to serve our stores with our regularly scheduled deliveries.”  This statement was released to mhn.com by a spokesperson for Shaw’s this afternoon.