New England JLC supports warehouse workers at Shaw's Supermarkets' Methuen Distribution Center
May 27th: The New England Jewish Labor Committee has lent its full support to warehouse workers at the Shaw's Supermarkets' Methuen Distribution Center, some of whom went on a five-day, 60-mile march to protest increased health insurance costs included in a proposed final contract between the workers, members of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 791. Workers on strike were stripped of their benefits in April, several weeks after the union rejected a contract requiring employees to assume the full cost of health insurance increases.
The New England JLC and Temple B'nai Brith [TBB] cohosted a breakfast today for striking warehouse workers, including marchers, at the Somerville, MA, congregation. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Joanne Goldstein both spoke to the workers via phone.
Shaw's workers with State Senator Patricia Jehlen (powder blue outfit), Sheila Decter (in red) with the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, Representative Carl Sciortino (suit), Marya Axner, Director of the New England Jewish Labor Committee (holding Jewish Labor Committee placard), Ruby Polterak (red hair, red shirt) with Temple B'nai Brith.
Marya Axner noted that "we were delighted to have them." Marya is not only the Director of the New England Jewish Labor Committee, but also a member of TBB.
"Both the Jewish Labor Committee and Temple B'nai Brith have a long history of supporting workers and workers' causes. For The Jewish Labor Committee, this is what we are about. At Temple B'nai Brith, social action is very much a part of the culture and fabric of the synagogue."
Pam Greenberg, member of the congregation, opened a Torah scroll and chose one verse to read to the Shaw's workers warehouse workers: Exodus 23:20: "See I am sending an angel before you to guard you on your way and to bring you to the place that I have made ready."
Marya noted "how appropriate this verse was for the Shaw's workers who were preparing to start the fifth and final day of their march from the Shaw's Methuen warehouse to the Prudential Shaw's in downtown Boston, calling attention to a labor dispute that is in its 12th week.
"Most of the workers had never been in a synagogue before and they were awed and delighted to be welcomed at Temple B'nai Brith. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick spoke with the workers at TBB, lending his support and listening to their concerns.
"On March 7, 2010, by a vote of 228 to 8, the workers of the Shaw's Supermarkets' Methuen Distribution Center voted overwhelmingly to reject a final contract offer by Shaw's Supermarket's. The workers voted to strike following the expiration of the current contract at midnight on March 6, 2010. UFCW Local 791 had been negotiating with Shaw's for three months previous to the vote.
"Just three weeks later, Supervalu, parent company of Shaw's and Star Market, cut off health care for the striking workers and their families. At the same time Supervalu fired the workers and started hiring other workers.
"When negotiations started in December, Supervalu, the parent company of Shaw's, made a final and best offer of 1% raise and no increased company contribution for any increases in health care costs, leaving workers to pay for the increases. Supervalu has profited during this recession, yet is asking to continue to extract concessions from workers on health care and job security."