Union Workers at Stop & Shop Supermarkets On Strike

Workers at Stop & Shop supermarkets are on strike.

Workers left their jobs Thursday afternoon across the region after their union failed to reach agreement on a new contract with the grocery store chain.

Workers at the Fairhaven Stop & Shop on Route Six began picketing around 2 p.m., claiming the company was "taking, taking, and taking," but giving the union nothing.

One demonstrator told WBSM News, "to come at our pensions and not give us raises, that's crazy."

According to reports, many Stop & Shop stores closed after workers left their jobs.

Five locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union represent 31,000 Stop & Shop workers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Union members have been working without a contract since February.

In a statement posted on its website Thursday, Sop & Shop said negotiations are continuing and the company was "disappointed that the union chose to order a work stoppage in an attempt to disrupt service at our stores."

The company said it had "contingency plans in place to minimize disruption." The company also says it's ready to meet with the union locals at any time."