Union President: Supermarket Chain A&P Will Fire 25,000 Grocery Workers

[marmar]

UPDATE: Since the publication of this story, the UFCW issued the following statement to In These Times:

“The UFCW today filed a strong objection to the A&P‘s 1113(e) motion to impose immediate changes to its collective bargaining agreements with UFCW local unions. Local Unions joined in the UFCW objections and also filed their own objections. Counsel for both the UFCW and UFCW local unions will also appear in court on Monday at 10 a.m. to object to the motion and participate in the hearing.”

(In These Times) About 25,000 grocery workers can expect to be fired this week as mid-Atlantic regional supermarket chain A&P goes forward with plans to sell or close all of its 300 stores, according to Bruce Both, President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1500, and other sources.

Both, head of a large UFCW local in the New York City metropolitan area, sent the message to union members in a post on Local 1500’s website.

“A&P has informed the [union] … that it plans to issue WARN notices to all of our members working for the company,” Both wrote on the Local 1500 website. He explained that Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) letters are required by federal law when a company like A&P intends to fire large numbers of its workers. Both’s message, however, also contained language expressing hope that the company would not carry out all of the intended firings.

A separate report from the respected Supermarket News website elaborated that the termination notices would apply to all of about 25,000 A&P employees in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, and Maryland. ................................(more)

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/18313/ap_will_fire_25000_grocery_workers

[yeoman6987]

1. A&P is closing stores that is why the employees are being let go

How can a company keep 25K employees without stores. Perhaps offer them a job in another state might work if there are openings. I hope they at least do that. Not sure how many would relocate but at least they would have that option. It is a shame the store is doing poorly.

[1939]

2. I wouldn't use the word "fired"

They are being laid off as redundant with the store closings.

There seems to be a philosophy in the supermarket industry that if you are not the #1 or #2 supermarket chain in a region that you should get out of the region even if you have individual stores doing quite well.