I am a fulltime college student and I work part time for a supermarket in the Bronx in New York. I have been working there for the past 2 years. I have Union benefits and the job is very flexible with my school hours. The owner has 5 stores in total. The store I work in is the only one owned by him in the bronx, the rest are in Brooklyn, New York. The store might close down in March 2008 due to a contract that the store has with the mall in which it is located at. I've heard that if the store does close down that I cannot receive unemployment if the owner tells me to work in one of his stores in Brooklyn. I think this is crazy because I barely have time to do anything working close to home. How am I suppose to go to school and work in brooklyn when the travel time is about 3-4 hours going and coming to Brooklyn? I would like to know if this is true and what are my rights in this matter. It will be greatly appreciated.

If the employer offers you work in one of the other stores and you refuse, it is likely, but not definite, that UI benefits will be denied. It is POSSIBLE that the UI office will look at the distance involved and rule in your favor (your school hours will not be a factor) but as a general rule, if you are offered work and turn it down, that's a disqualifier for benefits.

Thank you so much for being so helpful. I appreciate it