Congresswoman Hahn Releases Statement on Haggen Grocery Layoffs, Closures

Statement

Congresswoman Janice Hahn (CA-44) released the following statement on the recent layoffs, cutbacks, and closures by the Haggen Inc. grocery chain:

"Since Haggen Inc. began its rapid expansion along the West Coast earlier this year, it has failed to be a good actor in the communities it has come into. Not only have customers been charged higher prices, but also workers have faced layoffs and had their hours cut. Now Haggen has announced it will be closing at least 27 stores, including 16 in California. Instead of offering our communities jobs and a new neighborhood store, all Haggen has accomplished is offering shoppers fewer options and putting hard working Californians out of work.

My heart goes out to the hundreds of men and women who will lose their jobs as well as the many other workers who will undoubtedly be affected by these closures. The employees at former Albertsons and Vons stores are our neighbors and our friends. They are people we see every week and people we trust.

Should other grocery chains move in to fill the void caused by Haggen closing stores, I hope they will provide good paying union jobs that benefit workers and communities. In the meantime, I am committed to holding Haggen Inc. accountable for its business practices, and I encourage the company to work to better the communities affected by these closures."

Congresswoman Hahn also conveyed her concerns in a letter directly to Haggen leadership.

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