WATCH: Sudbury Firefighters Union Stands With Stop & Shop Strike

SUDBURY, MA — The Sudbury Firefighters IAFF Local 2023 Union announced they stand behind the Stop & Shop strikers. A walk-out on Thursday has stretched into a five-day long strike and counting. 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 Sudbury Firefighters Union posted a video of Jay Colbert, IAFF District Vice President & MA AFL/CIO Executive Vice President, pledging support for the strikers. "Firefighters all across New England are going to be behind you and all your (Stop & Shop) stores throughout New England for anything you need going forward," he said.

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.

Watch the announcement:

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