Noah Kim photo
Richard Trumka with Amity Stop & Shop strikers.
Strikers jeer shopper crossing picket line.
Strikers picketing the Amity Stop & Shop were told Wednesday night that they represent the American labor movement, by someone who should know — because he leads that movement.
The remarks came during a pep talk by Richard Trumka, president of the national AFL-CIO.
Trumka stopped by the store on the seventh day of a strike by 31,000 Shop & Stop workers across New England. (Read more about that here.).
“You, quite frankly, are fighting not just for yourselves,” Trumka told the picketers. “You’re fighting for an America that really respects workers. A company that makes $2 billion and offers less healthcare and less retirement and less dignity — there’s something seriously wrong with that.”
Trumka went on to link the Stop and Shop strike to a long tradition of American labor activism and said the workers are engaging in a struggle for a fairer and more equal America.
“We will not back down. We’re fearless. We’re strong. We’re powerful. We’re the American labor movement!” Trumka concluded.
“USA!” the cheering picketers changed in response.
They waved placards and booed shoppers who crossed the picket line Wednesday night, and burned anti-union leaflets that had been distributed by the company.
Strikers burn anti-union pamphlets.
After his pep talk, Trumka shook hands and posed for photos with the strikers, who are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
“Thank you for taking the time to do this,” one of the workers murmured to him.
“I’m proud to do it,” he replied.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
“I’ve been to a lot of strikes, and I’ve never been prouder to stand with workers than I am now,” Sen. Blumenthal told those gathered. “You have taught us all a lesson in courage and strength, two things a couple of my colleagues in D.C. could learn a thing about.”
Blumenthal mentioned that he has visited strikers in 20 stores around the state of Connecticut, including Stop & Shops on Whalley Avenue and in Danbury and Stamford.
“I’ve seen parking lots, stores like ghost towns,” said the senator. “You guys are winning.”
Thank you NHI: It had been 6 hours since you published your last article on the strike (something about a union leader and fires) so I was beginning to worry that The Independent was spending too many resources on topics such as safety, crime, politics, business or other secondary issues.
Please give us more insight on how a distant corporation and the highest compensated grocery workers in New England can't calm down and play nice.