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.”