The union representing workers at Overwaitea Foods is asking the public to ignore calls for a consumer boycott of the company. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union says a boycott would only hurt those workers who are already losing their jobs.

Overwaitea has announced it will lay-off hundreds of people when it closes six stores this January.

Union spokesperson Tom Fawkes says he understands people are angry, but a boycott only makes things worse for those workers trying to save some money before they hit the unemployment rolls.

"The more hours they get to work, the more hours they are entitled to," says Fawkes. "Their seniority is based on their hours worked, and their wages are based on the hours worked. Now, if the customers don't come to the store, the number of hours required by the store drops, and our members lose hours."

The union says instead of boycotting, people should write letters to the president of the Overwaitea Food group.

The company says it decided to close the six stores because they are losing money.