Union Blasts Haggen for Layoffs and Cutbacks (including 14 developmentally disabled courtesy clerks)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.independent.com/news/2015/jul/30/union-blasts-haggen-layoffs-and-cutbacks/

Courtesy Clerk Position Eliminated; Checkers’ Hours Dramatically Reduced

Thursday, July 30, 2015
by LÉNA GARCIA

Haggen has received substantial community backlash since it was reported earlier this week that the Washington-based grocery chain laid off 14 developmentally disabled courtesy clerks in southern Santa Barbara County. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is now providing additional information about the scope of the layoffs — not only were disabled employees terminated, but several hundred other workers also lost their jobs when the entire courtesy clerk position was eliminated.

After Haggen acquired 146 Albertons and Vons locations throughout California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada as part of a merger deal between Safeway and Albertsons, Haggen reduced most employees’ hours and eliminated the courtesy clerk position, which violated an agreement with the union, representatives said. Employees in those positions bag groceries, collect carts, and perform some janitorial duties.

In a press release, UFCW President Ricardo Icaza said that Haggen also cut the hours of most checkers. “While we understand that Haggen is struggling in some locations,” he said, “we are totally opposed to their decision to reduce most full-time food and general merchandise clerks.”

Haggen has declined to say exactly how many terminations took place, but UFCW representatives said there have been “hundreds.” Icaza said UFCW is asking those employees who do not believe they were laid off according to seniority to reach out to the union. Additionally, the union has filed a grievance with the state on behalf of all employees who faced reduce hours.

FULL story at link.

[hifiguy]

1. Profits before people - it's the only thing capitalism knows.

[olddots]

2. The Vons down the street from us is a Haggens now

Haggen seems to have bought markets that are doing poorly because the 99 cent stores selling some food items and the big box stores offering food not nessesaraly at cheaper prices .Meanwhile Trader Joes is kicking ass with their smaller stores and time tested business plan.

Big business is not too big to fail and we pay the price of it's greedy blind owners .

So. when you use that automatic personless checkout checkout counter it will bite you in the ass
sooner than later .

Power to the People !

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. Thanks for the heads up. Here's the contact us page at Haggen

http://www.haggen.com/customer-care/contact-us-today/