1776 members at Tops Markets ratify new three-year contract by overwhelming margin

From four stores emeshed in bankruptcy to four stores surviving to do a healthy daily business -- that's the tale of Tops Markets in towns across the northern tier of Pennsylvania.

On April 12th, Local 1776's members in the stores solidified their positions by ratifying a new three-year contract by a better than 87 percent vote.

The nearly 200 members work in stores formerly owned by Penn Traffic in Wellsboro, Sayre, Troy and Canton, PA.  For years the members lived with an uncertain fate as the company went through bankruptcy proceedings.  Last year, that uncertainly ended when Tops, based in New York State, purchased Penn Traffic's holdings in PA and NY, and Local 1776 negotiated a contract with Tops to keep the four stores in PA open.

Wendell W. Young, IV, President of the Local, said that the contract ratified Thursday night provides for an improved wage scale and maintains the members' health and welfare benefits at no additional cost to the members. 

"When Tops took over the stores the future appeared uncertain," Young said.  "That future now looks brighter for our members, the stores and the communities they serve, " Young said.  "We look forward to working with Tops' management to strengthen the performance of all four stores."

Counting votes after Local 1776's Tops Markets members overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract are Shop Stewards Bonnie Millard, Herb Morley III, Tina Tomb and Standley Sobiech.