I.E. Vons stores lay off, demote employees

     Vons supermarket is going through some tough times, and local stores are feeling the brunt of it.
     A subsidiary of Pleasanton-based Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY), the Southern California chain's Inland Empire stores laid off nine union employees, demoted 52, and switched 30 from full-time to part-time status in June
     "The biggest part of the (Southern California layoffs) are in our jurisdiction," said Brent Denkers, secretary-treasurer of Local 1167, a Bloomington-based chapter within United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
     The union's Inland Empire jurisdiction represents workers at 37 Vons stores.
     He said Vons never completely recouped from the huge union strikes that hit Southern California grocery stores in 2003.
     "Regular customers didn't shop there during the strike," Denkers said. "Customers didn't return, and (Vons) lost business. It's required the company to do some layoffs."
     The union is filing grievances on behalf of employees.
     "We believe there was an error made by the company in the procedures they used to lay off," Denkers said.
     Union employees have "recall rights," which means if the company is looking to hire or promote anyone, the laid off and demoted workers get first dibs.
     "We're hopeful it's a temporary thing," he said. "It depends on how soon business picks up. Everything is impacting our economy right now."
     --matthew.wrye@inlandnewspapers.com