MA: Democrats stand up for striking workers at Shaw supermarket, agreement reached

[ProSense]

Striking Shaw’s Workers Reach Agreement

by James Parks, Jul 9, 2010

Striking workers at Shaw’s supermarket warehouse in Methuen, Mass., soon will be back at work after they ratified a new four-year contract yesterday. The pact provides pay raises and continues to provide quality, affordable health care and a defined-pension plan.

The 310 workers, members of United 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.

Peter Derouen, spokesman for Local 791, told the Boston Herald:

We maintain one of the best warehouse contracts in the industry. We look forward to getting our people back to work, and Shaw’s can get back to selling groceries.

In a joint statement, Shaw’s and Local 791 say the new contract “continues Shaw’s long-standing history of providing good wages, comprehensive and affordable health care and a generous retirement plan. It also allows the company to operate more efficiently and address changing business conditions in a very competitive marketplace.”

The workers had gained significant community support, including 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.

[RBInMaine]

1. If Bay Staters had nominated Capuano, Naked Man Brown would have been toast.

[Arkana]

3. If Martha Coakley knew how to campaign, Scott Brown would have been toast too.

Let's be very clear--it was not her politics that lost Martha the election. It was her utter inability to run anything even resembling a competent campaign.

[Exilednight]

2. Hats off to Governor Lynch and Senator Kerry on leading the way. n/t

[YvonneCa]

4. This is heartening. Democrats who...

...support union members.

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. Why would anyone unrec this? Is it just Dem bashing threads that get 200 ghost recs?

:shrug: