Acme Trimming Full-time Positions in N.J.: Report

The Acme supermarket chain is looking to make about 100 full-time positions part-time ones at its 10 northern New Jersey stores, as well as offering voluntary severance packages, in a bid to reduce overstaffing at those locations, according to a published report. The affected stores were acquired by Malvern, Pa.-based Acme from the bankrupt A&P chain in September 2015.

The move was confirmed by Acme Communications and Government Relations Manager Danielle D’Elia, who told the Bergen County Record that the company wanted “to reduce these employees from full-time to part-time status while maintaining their full-time benefits.” She added that the grocer had acceded to a request by the workers’ unions to first ask for volunteers to accept a buyout package.

The buyout deal is $5,000 with three months of continued benefits, or $7,500 without benefits. The payments will only be made if a minimum of 49 people take the offer. If that doesn’t occur, then Acme will convert 73 jobs to part-time employment, the newspaper reported, citing details on the website of one of the unions. Employees have until Feb. 23 to accept the buyout.

Union leaders told the Record that Acme has encountered a highly competitive grocery scene in north Jersey, with residents maintaining their loyalty to rivals ShopRite and Stop & Shop.

A division of Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos., Acme operates 179 stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, employing 20,000-plus associates.

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