Unionized workers at Wegmans have rejected what the company called its “last, best and final” contract offer.
On Monday night, Teamster Local 118 said its members overwhelmingly rejected an offer that it said would eliminate the pensions of more than 900 Rochester employees and endanger health care for their spouses. Wegmans officials say that they cover spouses of employees now, and they have no plans to change that.
The Teamsters represent truck drivers, some warehouse employees and others.
Union business agent Kevin McIntosh accused Wegmans of “stealing” the union members’ pensions under this proposal.
Wegmans CEO Danny Wegman says the company was trying to create a more secure future for the employees because the union’s pension fund was not properly funded. He says the contract offer would have offered an 18 percent pay hike over the life of the six year contract and would provided a package of retirement assistance options valued at over $10 million.
Wegmans says if there is a strike, they are prepared to mobilize a plan to ensure that stores remain open without interruption. The union has not said whether it will go on strike.
