Reinstate Bashas' Workers Now

Three times a group of Bashas' Inc. warehouse workers attempted to address health and safety concerns with corporate officials, and three times they were refused a meeting.

Corporate officials began to threaten and otherwise retaliate against workers who raised workplace safety concerns and expressed support in forming a union. Workers asked the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to investigate the alleged threats and retaliation.

After an investigation, the NLRB issued a consolidated complaint in early January 2008 containing more than 70 allegations of labor law violations by Bashas' Inc. at both its warehouse and at many of its stores.

Finally, on Tuesday January 22, 2008, Bashas' Inc. told 29 workers that their entire department would be outsourced to TBG Logistics. Five workers were given the opportunity to transfer to other Bashas' Inc. jobs, four workers were hired by TBG (at reduced pay and no benefits), and the rest were terminated. We do not believe it is a coincidence that the terminated workers were among the most active supporters of efforts to improve workplace safety and form a union.

Arizona Corporation Commission records show that TBG Logistics was incorporated less than one month earlier, on December 27, 2007.

This chain of events raises troubling questions about Bashas' Inc.'s employment practices. Threatening and retaliating against workers who exercise their right to form a union and raise concerns about workplace safety has no place in any corporation, and it is especially disappointing to see it in a corporation that claims to treat workers like family.

We call on you to immediately reinstate Bashas' Inc. workers with full back pay, healthcare and pension payments with no loss of seniority. We further call on you to provide us with an assurance that you will not threaten, harass, coerce, retaliate against or otherwise interfere with workers in the exercise of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.