~Photo by Andrew Firestone Labor, faith and immigrant groups support strikers Andrew Firestone Striking Shaw's workers took their fight through Somerville this week for support from labor and faith groups and a protest in Twin Cities. The workers met with Centro Presente, an East Somerville advocacy group, and the Jewish Labor Committee. Patrick McDermott of Centro Presente said he was proud to support the marchers. Centro Presente often focuses on the rights of immigrant workers, but McDermott said they share the same goals with the striking Shaw's workers. "Immigrant workers and non immigrant workers are affected by the same struggle," he said. Marya Axner of the Jewish Labor Committee spoke to the workers, and urged them to maintain vigilance at a Thursday morning breakfast at Temple B'nai B'rith. "I want you to know you are not alone in your journey and in fighting for justice," she said. On Thursday afternoon, Shaw's strikers protested at the Shaw's store in Twin Cities mall. The Somerville activities were the last stop in a five day march to Boston from the picket line in Methuen.

The union, on strike since March 7, over a dispute in health care negotiations made their way to Centro Presente headquarters where supporters praised their resilience.

The meeting in Somerville was part of their 60-mile-march to the heart of Beacon Hill in Boston from the Methuen distribution center where they were formerly employed. With the strike now entering its thirteenth week the factory workers remain set on regaining collective bargaining in negotiations with Shaw's Supermarkets Inc.

The laborers, of United Food and Commercial Workers Union local 791, went on strike from their warehouse in Methuen after losing their rights to collective bargaining, while negotiating over increased health care costs with Shaw's.

Shaw's permanently fired all 306 works who went on strike on April 1 forcing many of them to seek unemployment benefits and health care from the state.

UFCW 719 Chief Steward Jimmy Porter, an employee since 1992 was adamant, but grounded about the marchers' mission as they prepared to walk to the State House. "It's about corporate greed," he said "It's about the little guy striking back." Alejandro Peres out of work since he and his 306 fellow workers went on strike said the march "symbolizes the fight for my family and all families in this struggle."