P &C Workers Worried By Future

By SUSAN MENDE

CANTON- Barbara A. Thompson has spent nearly 21 years working as a part-time cashier at the Canton P&C grocery store, relying on the job's weekly paycheck and health insurance benefits.

The 48-year-old mother now faces losing that job at a place she considers her second home.

When Price Chopper Inc. takes over former P&C stores in early April, store employees will lose their P&C positions, including several veteran workers close to collecting retirement. Workers can apply for jobs with Price Chopper Inc., but there's no guarantee they'll be rehired.

Some P&C employees said Monday they're left with a mix of anxiety, sadness and frustration.

"I'm discouraged and sad," Ms. Thompson said as she restocked bottles of shampoo. "I'm going to miss my co-workers and customers. They're like family to me. They really are."

She said she plans to apply for a job at Price Chopper Inc. the Schenectady-based company that last week agreed to purchase six former P&C stores from Tops Markets, Buffalo.

Those include P&Cs in Canton, Potsdam, Massena, Gouverneur and West Carthage in the north country and a store in Lincoln, N.H. The stores are expected to close from early April to late May when they re-open as Price Choppers.

"I'm not going to give up. Most of my co-workers have already applied," she said. "I always looked forward to coming here. I was always glad I had a job."

Price Chopper is a non-union store, unlike P&C and Tops where employees are members of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 1, Utica.

As a P&C employee, Ms. Thompson said she does not pay any contribution toward her health insurance premium. She also receives dental coverage at no charge.

She said $76 a week is taken from her paycheck to provide health benefits for her two sons, Adam B., 18, and Patrick N., 14.

"That's what a lot of people are worried about, their health benefits," Ms. Thompson said.

Another long-time P&C employee who requested her name not be used, said once her job ends, she expects to pay $695 a month in insurance premiums to cover herself and her spouse.

"When Tops bought us we were so happy because it was a union store," the employee said. "Now we feel hurt and disillusioned."

For now, Ms. Thompson said she can only hope for the best.

"Last night I went to church and prayed for all of us," she said.