Union files charges with labor board against Albertsons

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/03/30//news/top_stories/1_41_443_29_07.txt

Union files charges with labor board against Albertsons

By: WILLIAM FINN BENNETT - Staff Writer

NORTH COUNTY ---- The union representing Southern California grocery workers has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that Albertsons intimidated workers in the lead-up to Sunday's membership vote to authorize a possible strike.


View The Report: http://www.nctimes.com/pdf/nationallabor0307.doc

The charges allege that Albertsons management forced employees to watch an anti-union video urging a "no" vote on the strike, sent home union activists to prevent them from speaking with fellow workers, kept records of employee preferences on the strike vote and asked workers about how they were going to vote, according to union officials.

"There were a bunch of instances of people who were identified as strong union supporters who were asked to watch the video by themselves, flanked by a group of managers," said Mike Shimpock, a spokesman for the union.

A representative for Albertsons said Thursday that "all of their charges are completely devoid of any factual or legal merit."

Albertsons spokeswoman Stephanie Martin said that the union's actions are nothing more than a distraction from "the serious work that needs to be done at the (negotiation) table."

She said Albertsons has yet to receive copies of the charges, but once it does, it will respond and will follow all labor board procedures to the letter.

"We have nothing to hide," she said. "We will be cleared of all charges ---- we stand very strongly behind this statement."

Mickey Kasparian, the president of Local 135 of the United Food and Commercial Workers of Southern California, said several alleged labor violations occurred at stores throughout San Diego County.

"It wasn't just one or two store managers who didn't know any better," Kasparian said.

Albertsons has 48 stores in San Diego County and eight in Southwest Riverside County. It employs more than 5,000 people in those stores, according to company officials.

FULL story at link.

[hamerfan]

1. Keep us updated, Steve!

I used to live out West and Albertsons is notoriously repub. They need to play by the rules which, as we all know, is mostly impossible for the RW's. We can only hope that the NLRB under * is worthy of the name.
Keep us updated!
dumpbush

PS... Love what you've done with the new place here! Very nice....