Target’s Bay Area closures results in hundreds of jobs lost

A surge of retail theft has caused Target to close down three of its stores in the Bay Area. 

Those closures will cause hundreds of people to be out of a job. 

Driving the news: Target has decided to permanently close three Bay Area stores located in Oakland, Pittsburg, and San Francisco due to a wave of thefts and crimes.

• This decision will result in the loss of 238 jobs in the Bay Area – 106 in Pittsburg, 69 in Oakland and 63 in San Francisco. 
• The affected employees are not represented by a union and do not have the right to displace or bump employees with less seniority.
• Target hopes that some employees may be able to transfer to other Target stores, and they have provided information about this option to the affected employees.
• The store shutdowns will be permanent, according to the WARN letters the retailer sent to the state Employment Development Department.
• The job cuts will be final on Dec. 30 for employees who refuse a transfer to another store or are not eligible for one. 

What they’re saying: “We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance,” Target said in September. “We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all.”