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.

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