Shaw's parent company Supervalu has announced the layoffs of 700 part-time Shaw's employees throughout New England.

Locally, about 260 Massachusetts and Rhode Island workers have been given pink slips.

Peter Derouen, spokesperson for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 791 tells WBSM News tough economic times and competition are wreaking havoc on the company.

Derouen says the 700 employees are part-timers with less than a year of experience. They will be given preference if Supervalu decides to re-open those positions.

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