Schnucks imposes second retaliatory effort against Teamsters for boycott

100 more were to be fired Aug. 22 bringing total to 150 so far

Even as the impact of not having health insurance strikes home to more Teamsters Local 688 warehouse workers being fired by Schnucks, the company has initiated a second retaliatory effort against the union for their audacity initiating a boycott to protect 231 workers being thrown to the curb and replaced by scabs.

In a second attack on the free speech rights of Teamsters and as retaliation against the union, Teamsters and others with protest bumper stickers on their cars and trucks are being thrown off shopping center public parking lots where Schnucks has its stores.

Local 688 has filed another protest against this latest retribution with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), this time including DESCO, the property management company owned by Schnucks. It now has one case going to trial next month seeking to allow handbilling in front of the stores; two others are now pending before the NLRB.

Firings of Teamsters began July 31, with 50 thrown out. Another 100 were expected to be fired Aug. 22 and another 20 on Sept. 11. No word yet on the balance of the 231 outlined in the company’s initial announcement.

[box style=”4″]

Schnucks provides Teamsters’ certificates after avalanche of public criticism

An avalanche of criticism that hit Schnucks like a ton of bricks over their initial act of retaliation by refusing to provide Teamsters 688 warehouse workers losing their jobs with their equipment certifications apparently has backfired: the company has now provided the appropriate certificates.

Claiming an internal “snafu” over the delay, and adamantly denying the delay was an act of retaliation or retribution for calling a boycott, Schnucks quickly provided the appropriate certificates, Teamster warehouse Business Representative Mike Schlueter told the Labor Tribune last week.

When the story hit readers’ homes and then was posted on the Labor Tribune website, within hours there were over 25,000 hits and reposts.

“We appreciate everyone’s immediate response. It really helped move this off dead center,” Schlueter said. “We’ll accept Schnucks’ excuse for what it is.”

[/box]