Workers at the Safeway Distribution Center in Upper Marlboro cheered the news Thursday that the December 6 date for closing the facility has been delayed. “Although this is a positive first step, we recognize that there are very difficult issues to solve and there is much work to be done in order to save the 900 jobs at stake,” said Teamsters Local 730 president Ritchie Brooks. Collington Services, which operates the distribution center for Safeway, has agreed to delay the closing to February 14, 2016, “so that we can continue to meet with Safeway and Collington as well as government and community leaders to discuss alternatives,” Brooks said. The delay came after Maryland State Senator Anthony Muse convened a meeting with Safeway, Collington and Teamsters locals 730 and 639. Brooks thanked “all of the religious, political and community leaders, in addition to our numerous friends in the labor movement, who joined with us in urging Safeway to do everything possible to preserve these jobs,” Brooks added. That support “will be needed more than ever” as discussions with Safeway continue, said Brooks. “Stay strong, stay united and stay tuned.”
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