Phoenix Local Protests Tesco Liquor Licenses

PHOENIX -- Local 99 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union here distributed fliers locally, in conjunction with several community groups, to ask the public to complain to the state's liquor licensing agency about the granting of liquor licenses to Tesco for its Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores. The fliers, which did not identify the union as one of the groups urging the action, said Tesco had sold liquor to minors in Great Britain, which makes it an undesirable retailer; the fliers asked residents to write to the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control to complain. Although a news story in the Arizona Republic quoted an official of Local 99 saying the UFCW would "challenge Tesco every step of the way" if it did not recognize the rights of workers to organize," Bob Grossfeld, a union spokesman, told SN Friday that there was no connection between the issue raised in the flier and the union's desire to organize Tesco workers. "We were simply working with community groups to let people know what the facts are so they can decide whether Tesco will be a good corporate neighbor," Grossfeld said. "So far, the company has shown no inclination to discuss these and other issues, and this effort is just the beginning if they continue to refuse to communicate." Tesco officials could not be reached for comment. -- Elliot Zwiebach