Biden attends Boston rally in support of striking Stop & Shop workers

BOSTON — Former Vice President Joe Biden is showing his support for striking supermarket workers in New England.

Biden spoke Thursday at a rally in support of unionized Stop & Shop employees outside a store in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood along with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

"Wall Street bankers and CEOs did not build America... you built America. Cheers," Biden said to the crowd.

Biden told the crowd Stop & Shop's parent company has made billion while workers struggle to get a fair contract.

"Things are going to change and it's about time they changed."

United Food and Commercial Workers union members at 240 Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut went on strike on April 11 to protest what they call cuts to health care and take-home pay in the company's latest contract proposal.

Quincy-based Stop & Shop, a division of Dutch company Ahold Delhaize, says it is offering across-the-board raises and "excellent" health care benefits that beat industry standards.

Biden, mulling a run for the Democratic nomination for president, last week tweeted his support for Stop & Shop workers.

Stop & Shop responded to Biden's speech, saying, "We have offered fair and responsible contracts and remain in active negotiations to reach new agreements as quickly as possible that keep our associates among the highest paid grocery retail workers in New England."

Workers say they will picket as long as it takes to get the contract they want.

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