| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2001 |
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Furrs Supermarkets Announce Store Closings: UFCW Contract to Protect Worker Job Rights Furrs Supermarkets announced today the closing of five stores: one in Clovis, New Mexico, one in Albuquerque, New Mexico and three in El Paso, Texas. United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Locals 1564 in New Mexico and Local 540 in Texas represent the workers at the five stores. The UFCW and Furrs are attempting to work together so that the store closing cause as little disruption as possible in the lives of the stores' employees. The UFCW contract at the five stores provides for many of the affected workers to transfer to openings at other Furrs Supermarkets without loss in health benefits, seniority or wages. Workers who choose not to transfer can take advantage of a comprehensive severance package. "In difficult times, a union contract is the best protection for workers. The UFCW is working together with Furrs management to provide jobs for workers at closed stores and to provide a comprehensive severance package for displaced workers," said Shaun Barclay, UFCW Region 5 Director. "The workers have a voice in the Furrs restructuring process and the UFCW is working hard through the bankruptcy process to maintain jobs with decent pay and benefits," continued Barclay. The UFCW and Furrs are working to assist workers at the closed stores with any job transfers and with job placements outside the chain. UFCW members at Furrs should contact their local union office or their union representative if they have any questions or need further assistance during this process. The UFCW, with 1.4 million members in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, is the largest union of supermarket workers in the country. United Food and Commercial Workers Union: A Voice for Working America |
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