THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, January 3, 2020 Page 3 COUNCIL | FROM PAGE 1 In addition, Capone said he would need additional details about the purchase before he could cast an affirmative vote. “$10.5 million is a very large number,” he said. “I don’t see a plan in front of me that tells me what I need to know.” Capone also suggested postponing the vote until the three newly elected councillors are sworn in. In response, DeMaria said any delay would be detrimental. “Fred, let’s vote tonight, let’s cut the bull,” he said. “If you want to continue pushing it down the road to the next council, all you’re doing is wasting people’s time. I’m not coming back before you again; I want the vote tonight. We want to get the deal done.” DeMaria also said there is “plenty of room” in the schools and that there is no need to continue using the Pope John building for that reason. “It’s not going to fit our purpose for a school,” he said. TIME FLIES | FROM PAGE 2 the company’s attention. “Obviously, we all want to get back to work; we want our good customers back,” he said. Union contract negotiations had been a point of contention since talks began on January 14. The prior employee contract expired on February 23, and 31,000 Stop & Shop workers left their jobs on April 11 to begin picketing. “Instead of a contract that recognizes the value and hard work that our members provide every day, Stop & Shop has only proposed drastic cuts,” United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) representatives said in a written statement, adding that self-checkout kiosks continue to replace front-end associates. “The hard-working men and women at stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are standing together to tell Stop & Shop that it is time to do the right thing.” UFCW representatives said Stop & Shop proposed a dramatic increase in the cost of health insurance over the next three years. In addition, monthly pension benefits would be slashed by 32 percent, impacting recently hired full-time employees, while pay increases for part-time employees would be less than two percent. Despite being a regular Shop & Shop customer, State Senator Sal DiDomenico said he would take his business elsewhere until a deal was reached. “Once again, we have another corporate giant who refuses to treat The City Council recently approved the $10.5 million purchase of the property formerly occupied by Pope John XXIII High School. The mayor’s vision, going forward, is to use the parcel to construct housing for veterans and senior citizens. Councillor-at-Large Michael Marchese said he does not want to see the city spend that much money to purchase the building only to have it remain in darkness. “I don’t want to buy an albatross for $10.5 million and have it sit there,” he said. Councillor-at-Large Peter Napolitano said the waiting lists are astronomical for veteran and senior housing. “A lot of its employees with dignity and respect,” he said. “I am proud to support Stop & Shop workers in their fight for fair wages, affordable health care and a dependable retirement. I will continue to stand with them in this fight and urge everyone to respect their picket line.” Representatives from Stop & Shop maintained that under the proposed contract the company would cover 92 percent of each health insurance premium. They also guaranteed full funding for the UFCW’s defined benefit pension fund as well as pay increases for all associates. Company representatives said the contract proposed by the UFCW would significantly increase Stop & Shop’s annual expenditures. “This would make our company less competitive in the mostly nonunion New England food retail marketplace,” they said. Deliveries also come to a standstill as the drivers were unionized as well. As a result, one customer at the Malden Stop & Shop said, expired meat products were still being sold. However, company spokeswoman Jennifer Brogan denied the accusation. “Meat that is not sold on the shelf is being frozen prior to its expiration and donated to our regional food bank partners as well as local food pantries,” she said. As the strike dragged on, Stop & Shop President Mark McGowan reached out to his customers in an April 16 letter. “We are committed to resolving our labor negotiations as quickly as possible so that our empeople die off these lists,” he said, adding that time is of the essence to vote on the purchase. Veterans Commissioner Jeanne Cristiano explained the implications of not voting in favor of the transaction. “If you want to vote no on this tonight, it’s a vote against our veterans and against our seniors,” she said. ployees can return to their jobs and we can get back to better serving you and the community,” he said. “Be assured, we are working around the clock to get back to business as usual.” The strike ended on April 21 and ultimately cost Stop & Shop $345 million. School and city budgets On May 6, the School Committee voted unanimously to approve its $89.8 million budget request for fiscal year 2020. The new budget represented an increase of $8.4 million over the prior year. TIME FLIES | SEE PAGE 4 (Courtesy Photo) Mayor Carlo DeMaria 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 www.eight10barandgrille.com Kitchen Hours: Mon-Thurs: 12-10pm Fri-Sat: 12-11pm Sunday: 1pm-10pm Come in & Enjoy our Famous... $12 LUNCH Menu! Choose from 16 Items! Served Monday thru Thursday until 3:30 PM Grilled Rib Eye Steak! Only $22.00 includes Two Sides Every Friday FRESH HADDOCK DINNER Prepared Your Way! Includes two sides Catch the NFL on our 10 TV’s! 505 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 Tel: 617-387-1120 www.gkdental.com • Family Dentistry • Crowns • Bridges • Veneers/Lumineers • Dental Implants • All on 4 Dental Implants • Emergency Dentist • Kid Friendly Dentist • Root Canals • Dentures • Invisalign Braces • Snap On Smile • Teeth Whitening We are the smile care experts for your entire family In House Dental Plan for $399 (Cleanings, X-Rays, Exams twice a year and 20% OFF Dental work) Schedule your FREE Consultations today
4 Publizr Home