Advertisement Stop & Shop workers authorize strike Union, company working to reach agreement on new contract Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The union representing about 10,000 workers at Massachusetts-based supermarket chain Stop & Shop has voted to authorize a strike if it can't reach agreement on a new contract with the company.About 2,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 participated in the vote Sunday, a day after the old contract expired.The union members will continue working while negotiations are ongoing.A union spokesman says the company's wage proposals are inadequate, and it wants to cut pensions, raise health care costs and give new employees fewer benefits.A Stop & Shop spokesman called the strike vote "unfortunate" and said its wage and benefit proposals are generous and its health care insurance premiums are below market average.Stop & Shop is owned by Dutch company Ahold.