Union Expects Layoffs at Lucky Warehouses

Union officials said they are expecting layoffs at three Lucky distribution centers in Orange County as Albertson’s Inc. sheds 145 stores in the West to clear the way for its $9.8-billion acquisition of Lucky parent American Stores Co.

It is not clear yet how many of the nearly 2,000 employees at Lucky warehouses in Buena Park, Irvine and La Habra will lose jobs, said Ed J. Mireles, head of Teamsters Local 952 in Orange. But the losses are not expected to be as great as those anticipated at Albertson’s Brea distribution center, where up to 40% of the 760 employees could be out of work.

The layoffs could begin late this month, Mireles said. The union, Albertson’s and worker representatives at all four sites met Wednesday for four hours to discuss the workers’ status.

Idaho-based Albertson’s, which confirmed earlier that some Brea workers would lose jobs, declined to comment on possible job losses at Lucky warehouses. Grocery store workers are expected to keep their jobs, Albertson’s spokesman Michael Read said.

Albertson’s, which also owns Max Grocery stores, is divesting 117 stores in California. The company agreed to relinquish the stores to win antitrust approval of its acquisition of American Stores. Colton-based Stater Bros. Inc. is buying most of the Orange County supermarkets.