Striking Stop & Shop workers hit the picket lines for a second day today, but this time, some did so with doughnuts from a supporter in Washington.
Massachusetts senator and presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren paid a visit to striking Stop & Shop workers in Somerville this morning. With two boxes of doughnuts in hand, Warren said she supported the workers in their quest for what they say is better benefits and higher pay.
"Unions will fight back because when you're fighting for your family, when you're fighting for your community, when you're fighting for your life, you stay in the fight until you win," said Warren to dozens of workers on Friday morning.
Thousands of Stop & Shop unionized workers walked off the job yesterday afternoon amid stalled contract negotiations.
Five unions representing more than 30,000 workers across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut have been without a contract since February.
Paul Tritto, an assistant deli manager, is one of dozens of workers on strike at the Somerville Stop & Shop.
Tritto said he loves his job, but that Stop & Shop's desire to take away time and half pay on Sundays is one of the biggest reasons he walked out with his colleagues.
"They basically want to take everything that we've worked for all these years away," said Tritto. "You're taking money out of my pocket instead of putting money into my pocket. I work Sundays. It's like working a part time job. I would rather work a part-time job at the store I work full-time then go and work somewhere else just to make ends meet."
Stop & Shop's most recent proposal would cut monthly pension benefits for newly hired employees and increase how much employees would need to pay for health coverage, among other stipulations. The company has called their proposal "reasonable" and says it contains health and pension benefits that are better than most food retailers.
Jacquelyn Compos of Charlestown was shopping at the Stop & Shop in Somerville. She said she didn't know workers were striking, but supports their efforts.
"They need to because life is too expensive now," said Compos. "Food is expensive, rent is expensive."
Standing in front of workers and the press, Warren urged customers to support the striking workers and shop some place else until the strike is over.
"The people on the picket line are not just fighting for their families, they're fighting for all our families," said Warren. "They're fighting for basic fairness and equality in this country. Do not cross the picket line."
