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SUPPORT. NEWSCENTER 5’S SERA CONGI IS LIVE IN SOMERVILLE WITH THE LATEST ON THE STALEMATE. >> SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN VISITED WITH STRIKING WORKERS, BROUGHT THEM COFFEE, DOUGHNUTS, AND SHE ALSO BROUGHT NATIONAL ATTENTION. >> IF WE DON’T GET IT? >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> FIRED UP AND READY TO FIGHT, THOUSANDS OF STOP AND SHOP WORKERS ENTERED DAY TWO OF A STRIKE AT THE REGION’S LARGEST SUPERMARKET CHAIN. >> WE HAVE TO BE TREATED FAIRLY. IT IS A VERY RICH COMPANY. WE DO OUR JOB. WE NEED TO BE REWARDED FOR IT. WE WANT TO BE BACK IN THE BUILDING. >> MORE THAN 30,000 WORKERS IN NEW ENGLAND WALKED OFF THE JOB YESTERDAY OVER AN IMPASSE IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. THE UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS UNION SAYS THE COMPANY WANTS TO CUT BACK ON HEALTH AND PENSION BENEFITS. >> THIS COMPANY IS VERY PROFITABLE. THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS. IT IS NOTHING BUT CORPORATE GREED. >> YOU FIGHT FOR FAIR WAGES, FOR HEALTH CARE AND FOR RETIREMENT, -- RETIREMENT. >> THE UNION’S CAUSE GOT A HIGH PROFILE BOOST TODAY. SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN VISITED WITH WORKERS OUTSIDE THE SOMERVILLE STORE. THE CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT BROUGHT NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION WITH HER. >> THOSE AT THE TOP THINK THEY CAN JUST KEEP SUCKING OUT AND EVERY BIT OF PROFIT AND LEAVE NOTHING FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE. >> REPLACEMENT WORKERS ARE FILLING IN, AND STOP AND SHOP SAYS A MAJORITY OF STORES REMAIN OPEN. >> I DIDN’T REALIZE THERE WAS A STRIKE. >> CUSTOMER GARY FLEMING SAYS HE MAY RETHINK RETURNING TO STOP AND SHOP BECAUSE OF THE STRIKE, HE SAYS SERVICE INSIDE WAS SCALED BACK. >> ALL THE CASHIERS ARE CLOSED EXCEPT THE SELF CHECKOUT, MEAT COUNTER WAS CLOSED, FISH COUNTER WAS CLOSED, BUT OTHERWISE IT WAS KIND OF NORMAL >> STOP AND SHOP SAYS IT HAS MADE A GOOD AND REASONABLE OFFER, AMONG THE BEST, IN THEIR WORDS. THEY ARE READY TO RETURN TO THE BARGAINI

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Thousands of Stop & Shop union workers walked off the job and are on strike Thursday amid an ongoing contract dispute. WCVB crews at stores report the doors were locked. Several viewers tell WCVB they were "kicked out" or told to check out immediately. Five locals of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union representing 31,000 Stop & Shop workers in New England have been negotiating a new contract with Stop & Shop representatives since Feb. 14, the UFCW said. The workers’ last contract with the company expired on Feb. 23. Workers have rallied against the company as its proposed cuts to workers’ take home pay and benefits will significantly hamper their ability to be fairly compensated, Wicked Local reported. The workers walked out at 1 p.m."Given that negotiations with assistance of the federal mediators are continuing, we are disappointed that the UFCW chose to order a work stoppage in an attempt to disrupt service at our stores," Stop & Shop spokeswoman Jennifer Brogan said in a statement. Brogan added there are "contingency plans in place to minimize disruption" for shoppers. Within a few hours of the walk-out, corporate and temporary workers were brought in to help keep the stores operating. Signs were posted outside telling shoppers the store was open, but with limited services. A spokesperson for the company said Massachusetts stores would be operating on modified hours, with stores opening at 8 a.m. and remaining open until 8 p.m. The company said they were still coordinating Peapod deliveries and said customers should expect delays. A number of customers said Thursday night their Peapod orders had suddenly been cancelled. The unions say the company is demanding "unreasonable" wage and benefit cuts."Instead of a contract that recognizes the value and hard work that our members provide every day, Stop & Shop has only proposed drastic and unreasonable cuts to health care benefits and take home pay, while replacing real customer service with more serve-yourself checkout machines," the union statement said.The unions said that Ahold Delhaize had more than $2 billion in profits last year and got a U.S. tax cut of $225 million in 2017.On its website, Stop & Shop said it is the "only large fully-unionized food retailer left in New England."The strike includes workers at Stop & Shop's 134 stores in Massachusetts, 92 locations in Connecticut and 27 Rhode Island stores.