Raley’s to Close Petaluma Store, Part of 6 California-Nevada Shutdowns

Q: How will the fate of non-union grocery clerks differ from protected meat cutters when Raley's closes next January?

Non-union grocery clerks are likely to have fewer protections and less leverage than the store’s union-represented meat cutters when the Petaluma Raley’s closes on Jan. 26, 2027. UFCW Local 5 President John Frahm said the union will bargain with Raley’s on behalf of the meat cutters. That means those workers can seek negotiated terms over the closure, including issues such as severance, transfer opportunities and other separation benefits. Frahm pointed to the earlier Antioch shutdown, where unionized workers received severance and job placement through bargaining. The non-union grocery clerks do not have that bargaining option. Their fate will depend largely on what Raley’s chooses to offer directly, such as possible transfers to other stores if positions are available. The company has said it will try to place “as many affected employees as possible” elsewhere in the business, but it has not promised severance for non-union workers. In practical terms, the meat cutters have formal representation and a contract-based process to press for better exit terms, while non-union clerks must rely on the company’s discretionary transfer efforts and any general shutdown policies Raley’s applies. That creates a clear difference in protection at the time of closure.

1 articles · Updated · The Santa Rosa Press Democrat · Aug 21

Jan. 26, 2027 is the closing date for Raley’s Petaluma grocery store, a move that will affect 48 workers as the chain shrinks its footprint in California and Nevada.
Raley’s said local market conditions and the long-term financial sustainability of specific locations drove the cuts, and it plans to offer transfers to as many affected employees as possible.
At least six stores are slated to close by June 2027, including earlier shutdowns in Antioch and Mountain View that eliminated 43 and 50 jobs, with Brentwood, Roseville and Elko still ahead.
UFCW Local 5 said it will bargain for unionized meat cutters in Petaluma, but non-union grocery clerks lack that protection; the union warned North Bay shoppers will have one fewer grocery option as prices rise.
The downsizing follows a March leadership change at West Sacramento-based Raley’s, which employs about 11,500 people across 117 stores.