A majority of the Board of Aldermen signed on to a resolution supporting an amicable end to a Shaw's workers strike at last Thursday's meeting, but discussion ended abruptly after one board member changed his mind.

Roughly 300 workers went on strike in March after the final contract presented included steep benefit cuts. Last week, a five-day march that began at a distribution center in Methuen included a stop at the company's Somerville store on May 26.

Alderman-at-Large Dennis Sullivan put forward a resolution asking that the parties go back to the table at the May 27 board meeting. He said he had recently begun shopping at a Shaw's in Medford until the strike began.

"Workers have been without healthcare for seven weeks … I think it's unacceptable," he said. "When I go by that Shaw's, I choose not to shop there."

Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche said he was unsure if it was the place of the Board of Aldermen to weigh in on the strike, but noted that it didn't favor either side.

"We're merely asking both parties to get back to the bargaining table," Roche said.

"We have not only the right to speak about this, but I believe an obligation," Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz added. "It is my firm belief that the workers have been treated unfairly."

Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero, however, didn't agree. After signing on to the resolution earlier, he invoked a seldom-used board privilege to take the item off the table.

"I signed onto the resolve, but I certainly don't support it and I don't believe it's the business of this board," he said.

The resolution will automatically be part of the next meeting's agenda. Alderman Maryann Heuston, Sean O'Donovan, Tom Taylor and Bill White had also signed on to the resolution.