Striking Shaw's Workers Complete March for Justice with Prudential Center Picket

BOSTON/Back Bay - Completing a 5-day, 60-mile march, striking workers from the Shaw's Distribution Center in Methuen, Mass. and their supporters arrived at the Shaw's supermarket at the Prudential Center for a picket and rally on Thursday. Over 100 people gathered in front of 2 entrances to the store for about an hour - demanding that Shaw's management on-site come out and talk to them, and telling passers-by to boycott the chain.

According to United Food and Commercial Workers Local 791, the labor union representing workers at the Methuen distribution center, Shaw's cut off health coverage for over 300 of their members on April 1st - 3 weeks into a strike over Shaw's insistence that the workers "bear all the burden of increasing health care costs." The union states that "many of the workers have spouses or young children with serious medical conditions."

When negotiations between Shaw's and the union resumed on May 2nd, the company rejected a contract offer than UFCW says met some of their demands. At that point, union leaders and labor support organizations like Mass. Jobs with Justice decided hold a march to take their case to the public.

Organizers were pleased at the positive response to the march by the public, the press and government officials - including a supportive appearance by Lt. Gov. Tim Murray (D) at State House rally just before the Prudential picket. Sen. John Kerry (D), Rep. Michael Capuano (D), Gov. Deval Patrick (D), and NH Gov. John Lynch (D) have all issued statements asking Shaw's to bargain in good faith, and restore health care to the striking workers and their families.

Russ Davis, executive director of Mass. Jobs with Justice said, "The march showed the depth of community and labor support for the striking Shaw's workers. We're determined to continue and deepen support for theese workers until Supervalu/Shaw's negotiates a fair contract and restores health care to their hardworking employees. Supervalu, whose CEO Craig Herkert is a former Wal-Mart executive who just got a $10 million bonus, is a prime example for what's wrong with our economy. The fight of the Shaw's workers is part of beginning to turn that around."

UFCW organizer Megan Pierce said, "Throughout the march route, we were greeted by incredibly supportive community members, activists, labor unions, and faith-based organizations. The rally yesterday was a great way to conclude our 60-mile, 5-day march because it allowed all the supporters and the striking workers to convene in one space in a large sign of solidarity. Hopefully SuperValu and Shaw's were paying attention and agree to negotiate a fair contract with the 310 families who have been loyal employees for years. "

Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Supervalu, the third-largest food retailing company in the US, acquired Shaw's and several other retail and discount chains from Albertsons Inc. for $9.7 billion in 2006. Prior to 2004, Shaw's had been controlled by J Sainsbury since 1987, and had itself acquired Star Market in 1999. Under J Sainsbury, Shaw's had already closed the unionized Star Market Distribution Center in Norwood, Mass. in 1999, and the Shaw's Distribution Center in East Bridgewater, Mass. in 2001. The work of those centers was given to Keene, NH-based C&S Wholesale Grocers - the largest non-union grocery distribution company in the US, according to Wikipedia.

Shaw's management did not respond to a request for comment on the workers' march from Open Media Boston.

Organizers have vowed to keep fighting for justice for the striking Shaw's workers, and said that the boycott against Shaw's will continue until a fair contract is negotiated.