Saturday night, Feb. 23, came and went, and with it, the contract between five United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) local unions and the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company expired, with no agreement reached between the company and the union.

In a joint statement, the presidents of the five negotiating locals, UFCW Local 1445 (Boston), UFCW Local 371 (Westport, Conn.), UFCW Local 328 (Providence), UFCW Local 1459 (Springfield, Mass.,) and UFCW Local 919 (Farmington, Conn.), said, “Stop & Shop has known for the past three years that our contract was set to expire on Feb. 23. But because of their continued corporate greed throughout these negotiations, Stop & Shop employees and customers now find themselves in a position where job actions may take place.”

Those five local unions represent some 30,000 workers in 200 stores throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

The Stop and Shop Company has a different view of the situation. “Full-time Stop & Shop associates are among the highest paid food retail workers in the region, and we are working hard to reach strong new contracts that will continue to provide Stop & Shop associates with competitive wages and affordable health care for eligible associates,” they said in a statement from their media relations office.

“A fair, new agreement also must reflect the rapid changes and increasing competition that are reshaping our industry. Any new contract must ensure that Stop & Shop can continue to offer customers the service, selection and value they expect. And it must enable us to continue investing in our people, stores and business — as well as in critical technological innovations — to ensure our long-term success.”

According to labor union spokesman Amy Ritter, a strike authorization, when passed, will allow the local to call for a strike at any time. While one of the Connecticut locals has voted to authorize (though they have not initiated) a strike, Local 328 of Providence, which represents employees in the Bristol store, remains in negotiation at press time.

The union asserts that, despite corporate seeing $74 billion in net sales last year, Stop & Shop negotiators have only proposed cuts to workers benefits and take-home pay while increasing automation that will cause job loss. “Stop & Shop workers work hard every day to make their stores profitable and have earned and deserve a share in that success,” the union maintains. “Furthermore, multi-million-dollar store renovations and great customer service cannot happen without a workforce that is both valued and respected.”

As the ongoing negotiations proceed, all five UFCW locals are asking their members to continue working as usual.

“We are proud of our relationship with our associates and optimistic that we will be able to reach a new agreement,” said Stop & Shop.