The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and the Chelsea Collaborative announced this week the establishment of a solidarity fund to assist Market Basket workers who have lost their paychecks due to scheduling cutbacks at Market Basket stores.
Market Basket recently announced that all part-time workers would be laid off following CEO Arthur T. DeMoulas’ ouster from the company and weeks of protests from company managers and workers. The UFCW, the labor community, and the Chelsea Collaborative are reaching out to part-time and full-time workers in Chelsea who have lost their hours to provide support.
Local union grocery workers from Stop & Shop and Shaw’s have demonstrated solidarity with Market Basket workers throughout August by participating in rallies and through social media actions. These workers and their union will now directly support Market Basket families that have been financially harmed by the DeMoulas family feud.
Market Basket workers who present their most recent pay stub or employee I.D. at the Chelsea Collaborative will receive Stop & Shop gift cards to help cover living expenses. Both the Chelsea Collaborative and the UFCW are currently accepting donations to the solidarity fund.
Eligible Market Basket workers can obtain their gift cards at the Chelsea Collaborative located at 318 Broadway in Chelsea, Mass., this Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.