I want to say thank you to my community, for the friendships, conversations, and smiles we have exchanged throughout my 45 years of service at our local grocery store. My career started when I was 14, working after school and weekends as your grocery clerk for $1/hour at O.O.Ware. You saw me stocking the isles of Grand Union for over 33 years and my last 11 years have been under Shaw’s management.
On Friday, I was informed that due to my “position, location, and length of service,” I was being laid off immediately. There was no notice, there were no options, I was not to finish the work day.
My brother, Walter, was also laid off three years ago after 45 years of service. We have been proud to serve you, we love this community and hope to continue the relationships we have formed with all of you outside of the store.
Shaws claims to be your neighborhood store, but gone are the days of experienced workers, company loyalty, and proud employees. Welcome to the new neighborhood store, where money can be made off part-time help with fewer benefits. It used to be if you were loyal to the company, they were loyal to you, not anymore. To Shaw’s I was a number and that number was up.
I look forward to the next chapter of my life. You will see me around town, continuing my service on the fire department as I have for over 40 years, serving my town as a budget committee member, playing softball in Brattleboro, or better yet, climbing Haystack. (Today will be trip #100 this year.)
So the next time you shop at Shaws, be sure to thank the management, if you can find anyone, and tell them how much you enjoy their neighborhood values. Oh, and be sure to check the dates on your milk before you buy.
Thanks again,
Jake White
Wilmington
So let's all remember to buy from locally owned places - Blue Mountain Produce is now open year around and has quality fruits, produce and much more!
Take a company with a 45 yr man, making $30 an hour with 6 weeks vacation and imagine the corporate cost. To remain competitive considering all the mandates of Obama's administration, it is no wonder the company would opt to trade Jake in for two employees each working 20 hours at $10 an hour with no benefits.
I have no proof of the accuracy of these numbers, but you get the point of the situation I am trying to present.
How many more letters will we see next week?
In the immediate future there are going to be many of these same Jake Whites out there with their sympathetic story of "woe is me" and playing the role of the victim. If the Valley News blog gets 25-30 posts each and every time someone of their "locals" gets negatively impacted by the implementation of Obama's policies, the web will be overrun by these tales of woe.
To each and everyone who posted in sympathy......are you better off today than on November 12, 2008?
of our country by Obama, please don't turn this into a political
forum. No, I did not vote for him and wonder how anyone could.
Jake isn't telling a tale of woe nor is he playing victim.
He's simply stating how an unfair practice that Shaw's and other
companies use has wiped out 45 years of hard-work and loyalty.
Yes, this is going to happen again and again to many people,
but let's just keep our thoughts for now on one of the nicest
men in Wilmington.
Peter Libby
And unfortunately its not something thats happening in rural Wilmington but is a fact of life nationally and has preceeded President Obama's first term.
Boeing laid off 30,000 this week, Pepsi will lay off 4,000 and scores of other large companies will do the same in weeks to come in wake of President Obama's re-election. These companies and thousands more said that if Obamacare was to move forward they could not afford coverage, and would be forced to have lay offs.
I suspect Shaw's is a company that is flirting with bankruptcy as it is and needs to take any necessary steps to ensure their survival.
Arriving with the Fire Dept. and helping us thru 4 feet of
fast-running water, is a memory we will always have. Your calm
strong presence was truly appreciated during that unforgettable flood of 2011.
Shaw's, you've made a Very Big Mistake. Good business
sense would tell you to keep the decent, loyal and hard-working
staff that you've had for years, not let them go without a moments
notice. The bottom line on your balance sheet should not take
precedence over long-term employee loyalty.
Jake was always there with a helping hand and a smile. When
an item couldn't be found, we looked for Jake,he knew where everything was. You can have our Shaw's card back, as we will
be shopping at Price Chopper and Market Basket.
Hans & Denise
Viking Motel
Also if you buy lobester or a meat plater beware! it did not come from shaws, the manager went and got it from another store as they were out!!!
With the prices of everything in Shaws, they should be able to hire everyone in town, with paid vacations.
Enjoy the sun up on the mountain today Jake!
This is a shame and area people should boycott I know I will. This is the second such letter I have read over the years with another lady getting the same treatment. Maybe set up a legal fund for this appears to be discrimination concerning age.
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