Stop & Shop continues to negotiate with five local unions representing cashiers and other personnel as current contracts come to an end this February as threats of a strike loom.

Five locals with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 919, which represents 35,000, are in talks with Koninkliije Ahold the parent company of Stop & Shop.

The talks include concerns over health care premiums and wage increases.

According to a notice put out by the union, if new contracts are rejected, employees will strike as early as Sunday.

"These people have worked for you for years and you’re treating them like… garbage," Jackie Zimmerman of East Haven told NBC Connecticut. "Basically, like they don’t matter."

Advertisements have been seen on Craigslist hiring temporary Stop & Shop employees for $16 an hour in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Joe Steele of East Haven said he has friends who work for the grocery chain and they don't know what will happen.

"Emotionally draining," Steele said. "Physically and mentally."

Voting will take place on Feb. 28. 

Stop & Shop said this in a statement: 

The Stop & Shop New England and New York Metro Divisions are working diligently and in good faith to reach a fair new contract that continues to offer competitive wages and benefits for our 34,000 store associates in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut who are represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Union Locals 328, 371, 919, 1445, and 1459. There are approximately 12,500 Stop & Shop Associates in Connecticut who are represented by UFCW.

It is important that any agreement responds to the competitive challenges facing our industry and puts our people and our divisions in the strongest possible position to succeed. We have a long history of reaching contracts with the unions that represent our Associates without any disruption to their work or customer service and we have no reason to believe that this time will be any different.

Dan Corcoran contributed to this report.