Labor Board Refuses to Dismiss Charges Against Shaw's Supermarkets For Violation of Worker Rights
Worker's Union Intends Appeal on Additional Charges New Evidence Submitted to Board to Support Allegations Of Company Control of Anti-Union Campaign

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) announced today that it has been advised that the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) would not dismiss charges against Shaw's supermarkets alleging that the company violated the legal rights of workers. According to the NLRB's regional office, management personnel intimidated and interfered with workers in the exercise of their legal rights. Shaw's would either have to settle the charges and agree to refrain from illegal conduct, or face a trial on the charges.

The UFCW also presented new evidence to the Labor Board, in the form of a sworn affidavit from an employee, that an anti-union petition was controlled, circulated and supported by management in violation of federal law. The petition was the pretext Shaw's used to withdraw recognition from the worker's union and to renege on the workers' contract.

"The employee affidavit gives new credence to the charge that Shaw's manipulated the process to deny workers a voice," said Bill Danio, UFCW Regional and International Vice President.

The Board failed to take action on a number of charges that the UFCW will now appeal to the NLRB in Washington, D.C. According to the UFCW attorney's, the charges involving Shaw's unilateral withdrawal of union recognition are so serious and so legally complex that review at the national level is both warranted and needed.

"Shaw's action -- in ripping up its union contract, rather than allowing the legal processes to continue with the potential for employees to actually vote in a secret ballot election -- is so extreme and unusual that we never expected the matter to be resolved at the regional level. The UFCW will take the legal battle to Washington, and continue our fight here in the stores and in our local communities where the stores do business," said Danio. -30-