Labor & Employment Law

Striking Shaw?s Workers Pick Up Support

By James Parks

Striking workers at the Shaw?s supermarket warehouse in Methuen, Mass., are gaining the support of political, community and religious leaders and union members across New England. The 310 workers, members of Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 791, walked out March 7 after Shaw?s management demanded workers take on the full burden of paying increased costs for health care.

On April 1, Shaw’s cut off health care for workers and families even though many of them have serious medical conditions including advanced pregnancy.

Despite calls from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) and nine other congressional leaders and respected voices in the religious community, Shaw’s and its parent, Supervalu, refuse to reinstate the workers’ health benefits. Local 791 represents Shaw?s workers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine.

One of the most creative actions in support of the workers involved a flash mob at a Shaw’s in Somerville, Maine, led by the Somerville Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society band and an activist chorus. They sang “Ain’t Gonna Shop at Shaw’s No More” to the tune of ?Down By the Riverside? (see video above). After briefly telling shoppers about the strike and chanting ?Boycott Shaw?s,? the band and chorus marched out the door.

Last month, more than 80 delegates to the Maine AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE) convention wound up their meeting by joining striking workers at a Shaw?s Supermarket in Scarborough, Maine, for a rousing show of solidarity.

Workers are asking their union brothers and sisters to boycott Shaw’s while they remain on the picket line. Click here for more information on the strike.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on July 06, 2010 (boomark / email).