Union for Stop & Shop workers calls for strike vote

The union representing Stop & Shop’s meat, seafood and deli workers will hold a strike vote on Friday, after almost two years of contract negotiations.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 342, which represents about 800 Long Island Stop & Shop employees, said that its members are “fed up” with the lengthy bargaining. Their last contract expired in October 2011. A “yes” vote will give union leaders the authority to call a strike.

The union said that Stop & Shop, which is owned by the Dutch supermarket giant Ahold, has proposed to freeze wages for the period since the contract’s expiration and to reduce pension benefits, health care coverage and hours for part-time workers.

But company spokeswoman Arlene Putterman said Stop & Shop plans to set more dates to negotiate, aiming for a “fair and competitive” package that will allow the company to compete “in an increasingly challenging marketplace.”