Picket Pinches Pennies

As you might have read in the Daily News this morning, the weekend's picket line at Shaw's cut deeply into this weekend's food drive, which means local families will have less assistance than in the past.

I respect the right of the strikers to picket, but the timing just stinks. Furthermore, it doesn't make a great deal of sense. As one e-mailer pointed out, the shoppers who were diverted from Shaw's probably went over to Market Basket, which the e-mailer reports is a non-union shop. I couldn't confirm that fact but that sounds right.

I like to think an informational effort would have been more appropriate. Here's another article on the strike.

Union workers have a responsibility to themselves and their families to fight for what they think is fair. I do get that. I just wanted to make the point that the local food pantries might need more help than usual this spring.

Here are the officials results:

The three-day food drive raised more than $2,600 worth of food for the five food pantries that serve Newburyport residents: Salvation Army, Community Service, Our Neighbor's Table, Community Action and Pettengill House. In addition, $416.75 was donated to the 2 Cent Grant Fund and $416.75 to Community Needs which will be donated to Community Service for non-food items. $3,433.50 is the grand total! Thank you to all who donated, volunteered and special thanks to Shaw's Supermarket and Belleville Congregational Church for their efforts and generosity.

For more information on Pennies for Poverty go here.