Need milk? Eggs? Produce? Don't go to Stop & Shop in Ridgefield (or any Stop & Shop in Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts) because the store is closed and the doors are locked.
Promptly at 1:00 pm today, all Stop & Shop union workers (basically everyone in the store sans the manager and pharmacist) walked out due to what they say are unfair wages.
The news of the store closing came to a shock to locals in the midst of shopping - they had to leave their carts filled with groceries behind and exit the building.
The strike comes after failed negotiations with the grocery store. "Everyone knew this was going to happen because Stop & Shop has not budged. They don't want to give any wages and they don't care about the future of this company or the employees," one worker told us.
A flyer being handed out by workers reads: "Stop & Shop is aggressively trying to slash workers' take-home pay, health care and retirement security which will increase turnover and dependence of self-checkout and other technology."
According to several of the Stop & Shop employees we spoke to, the last strike happened in 1989 and lasted 17 hours.
"Our teamsters are backing us 100% which means will not be any deliveries to any Stop & Shop," one of the employees said.
As far as Peapod, we were told that they are part of a different union so the drivers will be out on road but their trucks are likely not carrying groceries because the Stop & Shop employees who serve as the Peapod shoppers are on strike.
"We just want a fair deal."
"The way the cost of living in Fairfield County increases, they can't freeze wages. It's not right."
"Actions speak louder than words. That's why we're out here."
"We want a fair contract."
"Be a jerk, we won't work."
You can visit the union website (UFCW) to support your local Stop & Shop workers.
Visit Ridgefield HamletHub on Facebook for a video capturing today's event.