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Aldermen Bob Trane and Rebecca Gewirtz joined a dozen local activists outside Market Basket today protesting them selling SmithField products.

This is an ongoing issue regarding a meat packing company in Tar Heel, North Carolina that allegedly abuses immigrant workers rights by having unsafe conditions and has repeatedly refused to organize even though the rest the company is unionized.

“They serve a large immigrant population here. People who work or shop here care about human rights abuse,” said Jennifer Doe, workers rights organizer with Jobs For Justice that organized the protest today. “We like to see that stores in our communities reflect our values.”

Gewirtz said this is a local issue for a community that consists of so many immigrant families and that this is an injustice that people need to know about and take action against.

Market Basket managers who came out into the parking lot to see what the fuss was about offered no promises other than to get the information to their corporate headquarters after Trane gave them a package explaining the issue.

“I can’t make that decision. It’s a corporate call,” said David Walsh, assistant manager at the Somerville Avenue supermarket.

“We think it’s critically important you relay this message,” Gewirtz stressed. “We care about human rights abuse in Somerville.”

Protestors told the managers that other supermarkets like Stop & Shop, Shaw’s and Johnny’s Foodmaster have responded to these protests positively by removing Smithfield products off their shelbves and that Market Bosket should be as supportive.

In return, they were told to protest on the sidewalk the next time they were there and to not take photographs on private property.

Local resident Xochitl Alvizo said this was an issue that would make her stop shopping there even though she has been a regular at Market Basket for a year.

“I am pretty much going to stop shopping here until they take Smithfield products off the shelves. I would want to buy products from more conscientious companies,” she said.

Earlier this summer, Mayor Joe Curtatone asked the board to approve a resolution that would ban the purchasing of Smithfield Packing Company's Tar Heel Division products until disputes with employees are settled. The resolution said that the company had verbally and physically assaulted workers; used intimidation to keep them from complaining; and violated labor and human rights statues.

While the main focus was on getting Smithfield products off their shelves, UFCW Local 1445 business Agent Bob Lennon said he would also like to see Market Basket get organized, as it is the only area supermarket without a union. Originally a family business, the supermarket has reportedly resisted all efforts at unionizing over the past few decades, UFCW representatives said.