Union accuses Bashas’ of cutting union-friendly workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/107367

January 25, 2008 - 1:30AM

David Woodfill, Tribune

Bashas’ grocery store company is retaliating against a group of employees for their pro-union sympathies by eliminating their jobs, a labor union official said Thursday.

Bashas’ files lawsuit against union

The local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday saying the Chandler-based grocer is violating the law that protects workers’ right to organize.

UFCW officials said the company eliminated about 30 dock worker positions because many were engaged in union-related activities.

“This is just another retaliatory action that the company is taking,” said Katy Giglio, a spokeswoman for UFCW Local 99.

She said Bashas’ is punishing the workers for, among other things, wearing pro-union T-shirts and circulating a petition in August asking for improved workplace safety measures.

Bashas’ spokeswoman Kristy Nied acknowledged the company is outsourcing 29 positions to a Phoenix-based company called TBG Logistics, but she said the workers were offered other positions within Bashas’ or offered jobs at TBG.

She denied the move represented a form of reprisal by the company, saying other grocers including Fry’s and Albertsons have outsourced similar operations.

FULL story at link.