Let workers decide if they want to unionize

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/192702

Opinion
Let workers decide if they want to unionize
Our view: Bashas' and union should present their cases to all who will be affected
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.22.2007

What is already an ugly fight between Bashas' supermarkets and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99 is only going to get uglier. The company and the union are, as is common in efforts to organize workers, so far apart it's difficult to see any way out of the impasse.

The conflict reaches back 13 years to when Bashas' bought seven stores from Arizona Supermarkets Inc. Workers in these stores were represented by the UFCW and, because Bashas' kept on most of the employees, the company was bound by the collective-bargaining agreement. The same thing happened in 2001 when Bashas' purchased two ABCO stores.

Bashas' says it has tried to negotiate with the union but talks fell apart when the parties couldn't reach agreement on health and pension benefits, and the union eventually lost interest and hasn't been active in the stores. Bashas' contends the union no longer represents the Bashas' employees.

The UFCW says Bashas' representatives wouldn't even come to the table and talk, much less negotiate. Union spokeswoman Katy Giglio said the store didn't make the kind of major changes that would require the union's involvement until 2006, when the company unilaterally changed the health plan and removed two cashier stations in a store and replaced them with self-service check-outs. The company has also closed several stores and transferred employees to other stores without bargaining with the union.

Bashas' says that if employees want to unionize, they should file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and have an election.

The union says the election gives the company too much power to sway workers without a chance to counter their statements at the workplace. The UFCW wants Bashas' to let the union come in and make its case to workers while the company remains neutral.

FULL article at link.