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Saturday, June 06, 2009
Smith's, Union Face Deadline
By Rivkela Brodsky
Copyright © 2009 Albuquerque Journal Journal Staff Writer
Labor negotiations between Smith's and its 2,000 New Mexico union workers continue as the current contract is set to expire today at midnight. Both Kroger, Smith's parent company, and union representatives say a strike is unlikely at this time.
Kroger, however, has placed ads in the Journal and posted signs at at least one Smith's Food and Drug saying the company is "hiring temporary replacement workers as a precautionary measure due to a potential labor dispute" and listing several locations where hiring is taking place.
Lynn Hailey, senior communications manager for Kroger, told the Journal on Friday that the Smith's New Mexico Division had not hired any workers yet, saying the company is just interviewing at this point in time. "Regretfully, it's one of the things we have to do to be prepared," she said. "We have to keep Smith's open and operating."
Greg Frazier, president of UFCW Local 1564, called the temporary hiring and the signs posted at stores "a scare tactic."
"The Smith's employees are really upset that Smith's feels that they could replace the good quality work that the members provide," he said. "They just want their fair share."
When asked if Kroger was anticipating a strike, Hailey said she couldn't speculate.
Frazier said there won't be a strike unless union workers authorize one. A union vote is scheduled Monday and will continue through June 18, Frazier said.
In the meantime, a contract extension may go into effect or employees could continue working without a contract, Hailey said.
The union represents workers at 25 stores in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Edgewood, Los Lunas, Grants, Socorro, Los Alamos and Taos.
Smith's has 26 stores in the state, 16 in Albuquerque, and employs 2,400 workers, according to the company.
The union is asking for raises, a higher pay scale for new hires, keeping future pension benefits at its current level, improved health fund contributions and better health insurance coverage for Smith's New Mexico Division's workers and their families, among other things.
The current contract has been in effect for four years.
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