Future Uncertain For Local Pathmark Employees

Union workers at the Dix Hills/Huntington Station Pathmark supermarket are on edge as the store's parent company, A&P, strives to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Peter Globoschutz, a United Food and Commercial Workers member and longtime company employee, said he is worried about possible salary cuts, wage freezes, increased healthcare costs and other looming benefit cutbacks.

The former Vietnam veteran and current produce clerk from Huntington Station who has had some of the same customers for more than four decades at the store, said he is concerned about losing benefits he's worked for his entire career.

"We know we're lucky to have jobs," Globoschutz explained. "Still, we don't have luxury lives but we live within our means. I haven't had a real vacation with my wife, ever."

UFCW officials say members have declared their willingness to work with the company on a new contract as negotiations with the Montvale, N.J.-based A&P company continue. 

A&P spokesperson Marcy Connor said reducing labor costs is critical to complete the turnaround. Bankruptcy proceedings began in 2010.

"While the company has made significant progress in its restructuring effort, it needs to achieve substantial cost savings in order to successfully emerge from Chapter 11 and be competitive for the long term," said Connor.

Aside from its namesake A&P chain and Pathmark, the company owns Waldbaum's, Food Emporium, Super Fresh and Food Basics, according to a 2010 Wall Street Journal report.