WPKN 89.5 fm - LOCAL NEWS: Supermarket chain cuts workers hours - hires visiting Chinese workers

WPKN Local News - Monday July 29  

Shoppers at Waldbaum’s Southampton location have discovered that the store has hired several visiting foreign workers including 3 Chinese nationals. 

In previous years Waldbaum’s employed youth from various Long Island towns who were bussed in to augment the staff during the busy summer months.

The East Hampton Star reports most of the 100 formerly full time employees at the local Waldbaum’s supermarket have had their hours cut.  

The cuts which started in April saw reductions of 20 hours a week or more.

In the months since, many workers have been scrambling to find second and third jobs in order to make ends meet.

An increasing number of businesses country-wide are relying on part-time workers in place of full-timers,

Starting in January businesses with 50 or more employees working more than 30 hours a week will be required to provide affordable health insurance or face steep fines. Before the law takes effect, many businesses are switching to a part-time workforce.  

Richard Abondolo, president of Local 342, the union that represents Waldbaum’s East Hampton.employees said the union recently filed a group grievance against the store. They are proceeding with arbitration. Hearings scheduled for August and September.
 
Waldbaum’s is owned by the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., the A&P. Shariff Duncan of A&P’s media office declined The Star’s multiple interview requests.