Dozens of Teamsters 317 Union members, who represent warehouse workers and truck drivers at the Penn Traffic Warehouse in Geddes, went to the state fairgrounds to meet with union officials fearing the worst. "In the last 2 months it's been unknowns. And if we're gonna be out of a job, just tell us and give us a date, That's all I want," says Lawrence Vanneste. A date workers weren't given in meetings Wednesday.
In the deal between Tops market and C&S Wholesale Grocers, Tops would begin trucking in its products from a warehouse in pennsylvania. The Penn Traffic warehouse in Geddes would close, putting hundreds out of work. Mike French, whose been with Penn Traffic for 22 years, says, "Everybody is just sad. No more jobs. There's gonna be a lot of people out of work. A lot more stores closing than you think."
While workers wait on a date, they did learn about unemployment, health insurance and job retraining. Something many plan to take advantage of. "I'm looking at this retraining thing. Learn a new skill but that's about it for now," says French.
