Community Corner

It's Not a Boycott or a Strike; It's Commitment

Local Union 371 set up today at Big Y in Branford to launch a campaign of demonstrations every Wednesday throughout Connecticut, western Massachusetts and Vermont.

With a very light spring snow falling and winds making it feel like it was still January, about two dozen Local Union 371 members flanked the two entrances of Branhaven Plaza where Big Y is located to picket and pass out information.

As shoppers of the plaza pulled in and out, members distributed pamphlets and gave an occasional wave to supporters who signaled their union approval with a car horn beep. Some even stopped and rolled down their windows to comment to the union members about how many people had lost their jobs when Big Y bought out the A&P and opened in early November of 2010.

While A&P was very much the topic of conversation among the union members at the entrance of Branhaven Plaza on Short Beach Road, Local Union 371 President, Thomas A. Wilkinson, said, “That’s not why we are here.”

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“It’s not a boycott,” said Wilkinson. “We’re not asking anyone to not shop here.”

What he and his supporters are doing today and will continue to do every Wednesday throughout Connecticut, western Massachusetts and Vermont, is “ask people to do something they may not connect with right away.”

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Wilkinson added, his voice overshadowed by car horn beeps, “We’re doing something positive here. It’s a message to the employees and the public.”

This message, written on the orange signs dangling from the necks of union members, read: “This is not a strike but the workers at Big Y have a big problem.”

“Where there is no union,” stated Wilkinson, “workers have less.”

He continued, “People today, more than ever, especially in this time, are aware of the lack of rights; it’s the condition that we are in.”

Though the group had not assembled to protest the many jobs that were lost when A&P transitioned to Big Y, many of the demonstrators were former A&P employees.

John Makara was an A&P employee for 37 years, the last two of which he worked in Branford. A man a few words, Makara commented, “Because of the non-union workers, Big Y wouldn’t hire any of us.”

He didn’t need to say more, as Pete Sena, business representative for the group, added, “A woman drove by and she saw John and said, 'Hello.' She wanted to know why he hasn’t been at work,” commented Sena.

Makara worked as a meat cutter at the Branford A&P. Sena stated that the customer said she’s not coming back to Big Y after learning that Makara was not rehired.

Motioning to the union picketers and then to the Big Y behind them, Sena said, "They are here for these workers so someday they can't be thrown out."

East Haven resident Rich Johnson, an A&P employee for 25 years, stated, “I am supporting the union and union jobs. I am devastated. I put 25 years in the store.”

The longevity of A&P employees was evident, with a large number of former A&P workers from Old Lyme present at today’s demonstration.

Husband and wife team Russ and Marion Carroll had been employed with A&P more than 70 years combined. The couple said they met at the store when they were young. When asked how they felt about losing their jobs, they said in unison, “It sucked.”

Marion added, “It’s like what do want to do when you grow up?”

Branford Big Y Store Director Bob Rainville was unable to comment in detail about the union’s presence outside, but he did make a statement in an e-mail.

He wrote, “Big Y employees have not felt the need for union representation, as they have many avenues in place to communicate their concerns to us directly. We pride ourselves on treating our employees fairly and with respect, and we are pleased that they continue to make us aware of questions, concerns, or issues that they have.”

With the dark cloud of lost jobs over his head, Rainville had to work double time to earn the community’s support since the store’s opening. And he was faced with a tough situation back in December when he had to ask the Salvation Army bell ringers of the Branford Rotary to. At the time, he stated Big Y does not allow any solicitation on their property as a result of past union protests.

The demonstration today by Local Union 371 is just more of many to come. Next Wednesday, they will be setting up post at the North Haven Big Y and, in the future, at food processing plants and non-food related, non-union places in their three-state service area.

"We’re not going away,” said Wilkinson. “This is a sustained campaign.”


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