Vote Due On Choice Of Union Huckleberry’s Employees Consider Joining Teamsters

They may be stocking shelves and squeezing grapefruit, but the employees at Huckleberry’s Fresh Markets have more on their minds.

A number of them want to join the Teamsters union and a vote is scheduled Jan. 28.

This comes two months after the natural food grocery workers terminated representation by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1439 on the basis that their employer unlawfully recognized the union.

Huckleberry’s Fresh Markets, a division of Rosauers Supermarkets Inc., has stores at 926 S. Monroe and 15510 E. Sprague. Combined, the outlets employ about 70 workers.

Huckleberry’s, which sells organic and natural foods as well as standard grocery items, opened in late 1996 on the South Hill and early 1997 in the Valley. At those times, management told the newly-hired employees they had to join the UFCW union, said Dave Robertson, an employee at the South Hill store.

“We were told it was a condition of employment,” he said. “For the first few months we were wondering, ‘How can this happen? Is it legal? Do we know if it’s legal?”’

One of Robertson’s co-workers filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in 1997, claiming that the UFCW and Rosauers had negotiated a contract without employee input. Robertson said Huckleberry’s employees had lower pay and benefits than Rosauers employees.

“The two unions will not try this case in the press,” said Sue Bonnett, secretary-treasurer for UFCW 1439. She said the employees had the right to organize any union they choose. “We certainly applaud their efforts,” she said, “as long as they’re union.”

The NLRB in November ruled that Rosauers must stop recognizing the UFCW as the bargaining agent for Huckleberry’s workers.

It was a mix-up, said Paul Van Gordon, vice-president of human resources for Rosauers. Because the company had a store at the current Huckleberry’s site in the Valley where workers had been represented by the UFCW, “… we felt we needed to recognize the UFCW for a replacement (Huckleberry’s) store there” he said. “The NLRB didn’t agree.”

Now, following a 60-day cooling off period since the UFCW was removed, employees at the two stores will decide who will negotiate their wages, working conditions and benefits. Next Wednesday they will vote to be represented by the Teamsters, by the UFCW again or by no union at all.

“Some of them are trying to get a union, which clearly is their right,” said Van Gordon. “We don’t know how many employees feel that way.”

Robertson said a majority of his co-workers sent signature cards to the NLRB asking for the election and requesting the Teamsters.

“It wasn’t that we picked them. They picked us,” said Rick Stone, business representative with Teamsters Local 690. “These are very highly motivated people. They definitely want a bargaining unit.”

Stone said several of the workers may already have discussed contract proposals to be negotiated with Rosauers once a union is certified.

“They’re reading labor books. They’re working on contract stuff,” he said. “Obviously they’re determined.”

The employees also have created an underground newsletter called “Cousin Huck,” in which they discuss employment issues at Huckleberry’s.

If the workers choose the Teamsters, it will be the first time the union has represented grocery store workers in Spokane, though it has represented both grocery warehouse workers and truck drivers.

Rosauers has 540 union employees and 293 non-union employees - including those at Huckleberry’s - in Spokane. Seven of the eight Rosauers stores in Spokane have employees who are UFCW members. The store also bargains with other unions.

“We’ve had representation relations with the Teamsters local here in town (with truck drivers and warehouse employees) in years past,” said Van Gordon. “We’ve always had good relations with all the unions we worked with.”

On Jan. 28, workers at Huckleberry’s South Hill store will vote from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and those at the Valley store will vote from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Hannelore Sudermann Staff writer