Shaw’s Supermarkets plans to lay off 4% of its sales associates to “streamline” its retail operations, the company has confirmed.
A spokesperson for the New England supermarket operator confirmed that Shaw’s will be making around 1,200 retail workers redundant.
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“We are constantly evaluating our business to see that it is as effective and competitive as possible. The layoffs are a part of this ongoing process,” the spokesperson said.
The move has, however, drawn criticism from labour unions. The company was already facing a three-week strike at its perishable food distribution depot in Methuen.
The 300 distribution workers at the site had rejected Shaw’s final contract offer and started industrial action, including mobile picket lines at Shaw’s supermarkets throughout New England.
The company said earlier this week that it will replace all the workers involved in the strike.
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By GlobalDataA spokesperson for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union has criticised Shaw’s for the “harsh” treatment of its workforce.
However, the UFCW said that it was a “positive sign” that Shaw’s has agreed to meet the union on Monday (29 March).
