Local 1500 files Complaint against A&P/Pathmark

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For Immediate Release Contact: Pat Purcell

April 15th, 2009

Grocery Workers Union Files Complaint against A&P/Pathmark Supermarkets with New York State Department of Labor; Unions Seeks Enforcement of State W.A.R.N. Act

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, New York State’s largest Local Union representing grocery workers, is responding quickly and aggressively to A&P Supermarkets attempt to avoid compliance with New York State labor laws. A&P Supermarkets is refusing to comply with the New York State W.A.R.N. act which requires employers to pay workers wages for 90 days after announcing the closing of a facility. A&P recently announced the closing of the Pathmark Supermarket in West Hempstead, Long Island. A&P is the parent corporation of Pathmark Supermarkets.

“We are extremely concerned about our members who work in that store and will do everything within our power to minimize the affect this store closing has on our members and their families,” United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both stated. “Additionally, I am outraged, though not surprised, that A&P would take such a callous position in regards to how they are treating our members and their families. The legal fees this company will incur battling our Union could easily be used to pay these workers according to the State law,” Both continued. “With this complaint we are putting A&P on notice that this Union will be relentless in protecting the rights of our members,” Both concluded. The Union is also looking at possible violations of Federal law.

UFCW Local 1500 also announced that they will be launching a campaign to alert consumers, shareholders, elected leaders and community organizations of A&P’s new corporate practice of treating workers as insignificant and minor contributors to A&P’s success.” The new A&P is taking a page from the text books of companies like Wal-Mart when it comes to how they are treating their employees,” President Both claimed. “Profits first wihout regard to the affect layoffs, schedule changes and other personnel changes have on workers and their families is how A&P is running their company. However, unlike Wal-Mart workers, A&P/Pathmark workers have a Union that will not sit by quietly and watch management treat workers this way,” Both declared. “Profits first, employees last is not only a failed business model, it is immoral and goes against the family values of New Yorkers.”

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, based out of Queens Village, represents over 23,000 grocery workers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, King Kullen, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, Fairway, D’Agostino, Dairy Barn, Key Food and Shop Rite.