The five United Food and Commercial Workers locals negotiating contracts with Stop & Shop Supermarket Co.’s Quincy-based New England division are expected to return to the bargaining table next week to resume talks after federal mediators stepped in to help broker discussions.
Some 35,000 workers at the grocery chain’s Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut stores have continued to work despite their contracts’ expiration Feb. 27.
Negotiations stopped Wednesday so the union locals could review Stop & Shop’s latest contract proposals, according to Jim Carvalho, political director for Dedham-based UFCW Local 1445.
“We may be back at the negotiating table as early as Tuesday or Wednesday next week,” Carvalho said.
Members of Local 1445, which represents almost 10,000 workers, last Sunday voted to authorize a strike if necessary.
