- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
BY CHRISTINE HARVEY
| Friday, November 01, 2002 | (No comments posted.)
Times Staff Writer
HAMMOND -- New hires of the Food 4 Less grocery store are accusing the company of union-bashing, despite promises to the City Council that it would leave the choice of whether to unionize to employees in exchange for a $738,000 tax abatement.
In response, council members threatened to rescind the abatement if they determine anti-union sentiment is present.
Douglas Handley said he was hired to work as the assistant produce manager at Food 4 Less, opening later this month on 165th Street near Woodmar Mall, and attended an orientation Oct. 15 at one of the company's stores in Illinois.
At the orientation, Handley said a presentation by Midwest Division Director of Store Operations Mike Parks started out to say the company didn't care whether employees decided to form a union, adding that the choice was theirs to make.
However, the balance of the 40-minute presentation consisted of Parks discouraging union formation, said Handley, who opted not to accept the position he had been hired for after hearing Parks's remarks.
Parks told employees how he believed a union would interfere with communication between managers and workers and that unions are only after one thing -- money from initiation and dues, the costs of which he lied about, Handley said.
In addition, Parks showed a video called "Little Card, Big Trouble," which showed union organizers harassing employees at work and their homes to get authorization cards signed, he said.
"I found it interesting, that for a company who says they do not care if the employees go union, they sure spent a lot of time bashing unions," said Handley, a former union member. "Before the store is even open, Food 4 Less is already spreading fear and misinformation about the (union) among their employees."
Jim Bakken, an organizer with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881, said he expected the anti-union campaign, which he said is designed to scare employees from joining unions. Though it is illegal for the company's representatives to threaten employees directly, he said they distort the truth and use innuendo to dissuade membership, Bakken said.
When reached at his office in Illinois, Parks said he spent less than 15 minutes talking about unions and denied that his remarks were fueled by anti-union sentiment. Rather, he said he sought to educate employees about their rights and the ramifications of joining a union.
Parks stressed that Food 4 Less is a pro-choice employer that does not discourage union membership, but he wanted employees to know that unions are businesses whose tactics he has seen in the past. As for the accusation that he lied about initiation fees and dues, Parks said he cited an average cost to members of UFCW locals across the country.
Lastly, Parks said Food 4 Less just tries to encourage a team atmosphere, where employees are free to come to their managers with problems.
The City Council voted 7-1 in June to grant an eight-year tax abatement to Food 4 Less, owned by the Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. Food 4 Less, which will be located in the Hammond Mills Center next to Wal-Mart, is taking over the 10-year abatement granted to the former Dominick's grocery store, as well as its building, which closed in 1999 after being open for less than seven months.
Councilwoman Kathy Kazmierczak, D-5th, voted against giving Food 4 Less the abatement after the company refused to commit to being a union store. She was backed by hundreds of union employees who said the abatement would give Food 4 Less an unfair advantage over the existing grocery stores in the area.
Union members also said they believed the tax break was unnecessary and should not be given unless wages and benefits were guaranteed and the work force were unionized prior to the store's opening.
Representatives of Food 4 Less have said all of the company's stores nationwide are unionized. Only three opened without a union in place, though they organized soon after. The company, with 111 stores in eight states, is making its first foray into Indiana.
Kazmierczak said this week that she knew when the abatement was granted that Food 4 Less had a history of anti-union campaigns and thus had asked to see any orientation materials. However, the information she received was incomplete and did not contain the video described by Handley, Kazmierczak said.
Councilman McKinley "Mac" Nutall, D-3rd, who vacillated on granting the abatement, said Thursday that he was disappointed to hear rumors of union-bashing by Food 4 Less.
He said he plans to write a letter to the company, instructing it to make sure the playing field is level in regard to unions. In addition, Nutall said he will visit the store once it opens and speak with employees to see if union organization is being discouraged.
If he finds a prevailing anti-union sentiment at Food 4 Less, Nutall said he will work to rescind the abatement.
Nutall said he hopes that doesn't have to happen because he knew the abatement was justified when he saw people lined up by the hundreds to apply for openings at the store.
In all, Food 4 Less will employ 197 people, Parks said, 111 of whom are from Hammond.
Christine Harvey can be reached at charvey@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-4174.
Back to story No comments posted.
- It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
- It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
- It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
- It promoted violence or illegal acts.
- It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.
In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.
Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.
Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.
For more information please read our Terms of Service.