Boston Stop & Shop Strikes Hold Strong Through Weekend

BOSTON, MA — The Stop & Shop strike has held up through the weekend, after it started with a walk-out on Thursday. The walkouts affect 134 stores in Massachusetts, 92 in Connecticut and 27 in Rhode Island. Contract negotiations failed between the Stop & Shop workers union and the company. The workers are represented by the United Food & Commercial Workers Locals 1445, 328, 371, 919 and 1459.

Strikers marched in the parking lot of the Mission Hill location on Sunday, chanting "If we don't get it, shut it down," and "Stop & Shop — On strike." Jose Lopes, the shop steward, said there has been a consistent presence at the Mission Hill location since the walk-outs on Thursday. Lopes said the South Bay location is the biggest group in the Boston area. The group was asked to move protests to the street and of out of the parking lot by police, since the parking lot is considered private property.

Workers' previous contract expired in February. At the center of negotiations was time-and-a-half pay for Sundays and holidays, which the union said the company was trying to strip awayStop & Shop said at the time the agreement had to be in line with industry changes.

With minimum wages gradually increasing each year until it reaches $15 an hour, Massachusetts is in the process of phasing out time-and-a-half pay for Sundays and holidays.

"This is how I make my living," Lopes said, he has worked for Stop & Shop for 37 years. "This was a punch in the gut," Lopes said about negotiations. He said he and other strikers are prepared to remain on strike as long as necessary.

Check out more Patch coverage of the strikes Brookline, Rhode Island, Natick and Connecticut.

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