Battle Lines: Other unions urge unified front in AWG fight

Some area labor unions may be stepping forward to help out if the Teamsters need it.

Clark W. Brown, business agent for Service Employees International Union Local 50, said his group is encouraging its members to shop at non-Associated Wholesale Grocers stores, and it wants labor to offer a unified voice.

"Labor isn't effective unless we are unified. We should all avoid the AWG stores, and we should let it be known that we support the Teamsters," Brown said.

Brown said his group attended a rally in support of the Teamsters some months ago, and members are prepared to help with the picketing efforts if they are approached to do so.

This is a big hit for Springfield's largest union, Brown said. The Teamsters represent more than 3,400 workers and the AWG workers are about 20 to 25 percent of that total, said Jim Kabell, business manager for Teamsters Local 245.

Bill Wildoner, an international staff representative for the Communications Workers of America Local 6312 in Springfield, said, "We'll do whatever it takes; anything we can do to support the Teamsters."

The CWA local has already handed out brochures to its members asking them not to shop at AWG stores and plans to get involved in picketing if approached.