Haggen employees' union prepared to fight to keep contract

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bellingham Herald

BY DAVE GALLAGHER

The union representing Haggen’s employees says it will fight to keep its contract as the company reorganizes after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In a letter sent to Haggen employees Wednesday night, Sept. 9, UFCW 21 President Todd Crosby said the union is coordinating effors for all the local chapters up and down the West Coast in order to have a focused response and keeping a united front. The letter was also critical of Haggen’s handling of the Tuesday announcement of its Chapter 11 filing.

“It is simply wrong for all of our hard-working Haggen employees to have learned about this bankruptcy filing on the local news,” Crosby said in the letter.

While it is unclear at this early stage how much influence the union will have on Haggen’s reorganization plans, it does represent a majority of Haggen’s current workforce. According to court documents, about 80 percent — or around 8,770 employees — are union members.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article34803162.html

[Bluenorthwest]

1. This reeks. Haggen recently aquired a huge number of stores as part of the Albertson's/Safeway

merger. Two Haggen stores opened in my area. They are almost good. Almost.

[frylock]

3. 2 of the 3 Vons stores in my neighborhood were sold to Haggens and converted..

a few months ago. I saw that one looked like it was already closing, as there were discount and 'Everything must go' signs plastered all over the store front. I'm sure the same applies for the second store. I've only ever been to Haggens once, despite shopping at both of those Vons for years, and have been doing the majority of my shopping at the Vons up the street from my office.

[Z_California]

2. Haagens took over 3 stores in my town

They were supposed to cater to the organic/local grown market but they couldn't hold a candle to Trader Joes and all of their prices were jacked up ($3.79 for a gallon of milk, all other stores around $2.89, etc.)

The 3 stores, previously thriving as Albertsons or Vons, all became ghost towns within a couple weeks. 30 year employees (grandfathered under the old union contract) getting hours cut from 40 to 24 hours a week while the teenage baggers/stockers got hours bumped up. Now 2 of the 3 stores are closing after a couple months. It seemed like they never even tried to compete here. The whole thing reeks bad and a lot of people who made it a career are now out of work.

This whole deal smells real bad - seemed deliberate.

[olddots]

4. there is something very , very fishy about this .

I don't want to get conspiracy nutso but something is very odd .The neighborhood market will eventually make a come back if humans live that long .

[winstars]

5. Haggen's now owned by Wall Street investment firm, what could go wrong????

SCUMBAGS!

[Capt.Rocky300]

6. This was a case of a minnow trying to swallow a whale.......

We live in the home area of Haggen and have shopped there for 25+ years. It's a great store with a large selection and great service though a tad on the expensive side. I remember how stunned we were when we heard of the acquisitions plans. Anyone with an ounce of brains knew it wouldn't work. It saddens us deeply that loyal employees we've dealt with for years will be the ones to pay the price for a very stupid management decision.

[WestSeattle2]

7. Haggens are so expensive - and they're really nothing special.

Most people who are willing to pay premium prices expect corresponding value. Why pay Haggens prices for what is Safeway fare?

Haggens business model is broke and nothing will fix it without a wholesale restructuring.