Politicians Pick Up Signs With Stop & Shop Workers In Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA — From Presidential Candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren in Somerville, to Brookline firefighters union President Paul Trahon with Brookline State Rep. Tommy Vitolo in Brookline, politicians across the region, including in Brookline are supporting the UFCW workings on strike.

On Saturday, Trahon and Vitolo, Town Meeting member Isaac Silberberg, who is also running for Select Board, and Town Meeting member Neil Gordon, who is running again for constable, and Town Meeting member John Shreffler picked up signs and joined the picket line as union members called chants through a blow horn and cars honked as they drove past.

"The international corporation that owns Stop & Shop turned $2 billion in profits last year and it's trying to roll back vacation time, pension and wages, and that's not the right thing to do," said State Rep. Tommy Vitolo Saturday afternoon.

Thousands of Stop & Shop workers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut remained on strike Saturday, two days after walking out amid failed contract negotiations between their union and the company.

Sean Killiea, who works at the Brookline Stop & Shop, said they're just asking for a fair deal.

"We're business people, also. We understand the cost of health care affects everyone" Killiea. "We understand that most of a wage that we'll get from a wage increase will go to health coverage. But I mean, the loss of time on Sundays and a half on Sundays the lost of just of cash?"

Killiea said expecting people who have kids and who depend on their salary to make ends meet is crushing.

"I can't believe it. It breaks my heart," he said. "It really does."

But the silver lining, said Killiea, was how much support the picketers were seeing over the past three days. Friday someone came and handed out $20 bills, another person stopped and delivered potstickers for dinner, today some members of the Brookline police department brought pizza, and Vitolo brought coffee.

"It's amazing, you see the tweets and you see these guys coming down to spend their Saturday sweating in the sun away from their families, what else can you say; they care. I expected support, but not like this," said Killiea.

Saturday the parking lot was mostly empty and those on the picket line were imploring residents not to go into the store.

"There are no union in employees inside right now, so we're asking that you don't spend money here," one picketer told a woman heading into the store.

Inside, on what would have been a normally bustling afternoon, about a dozen people, many older, were shopping. There were two people stocking shelves, and two people working checkouts.

The workers, represented by the United Food & Commercial Workers Locals 1445, 328, 371, 919 and 1459, walked off the job around 1:15 p.m. Thursday. Customers were asked to leave their groceries behind and leave the stores.

"Given that negotiations with assistance of the federal mediators are continuing, we are disappointed that the UFCW chose to order a work stoppage in an attempt to disrupt service at our stores," Stop & Shop said in a statement. "Stop & Shop has contingency plans in place to minimize disruption."

The walkouts affected 134 stores in Massachusetts, 92 in Connecticut and 27 in Rhode Island. A Stop & Shop spokesperson said in an email Friday the "majority" of its stores in Massachusetts will remain open. Banks and pharmacies will also be open even if the supermarket is closed; however, all gas stations are closed, including Brookline's.

The strike is similar to that of a 2014 walkout by Market Basket workers who protested successfully against the ouster of CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, who vowed to protect wages and benefits.

Vitolo said he was concerned about older residents in the neighborhood who depended on Stop & Shop for their groceries.

"They're now faced with crossing a picket line or making a real effort to go somewhere less convenient. It's an example of how institutions can lose sight of being a good neighbor," he said. "Working folks matter. And sometimes we lose sight of that," said Vitolo.

RELATED:

• Brookline Stop & Shop Workers Join Strike
• Stop & Shop Strike: 'Majority' Of Stores Open
• Elizabeth Warren Rallies With Striking Stop & Shop Workers

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).