Feds Demand Marsh Reinstate Employee

In the latest round of labor strife for Marsh Supermarkets Inc., the National Labor Relations Board has sued the Indianapolis-based grocer, demanding it rehire a former employee that the lawsuit alleges was fired for supporting union organization.

The NLRB further has asked the U.S. District Court in Southern Indiana to order Marsh to “stop threatening, intimidating and coercing its workers to try to discourage them from seeking a union voice on the job,” according to a press release from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

Marsh has consistently denied any wrongdoing. “Marsh vehemently denies the charges and looks forward to the scheduled hearing where the facts of the case will be presented fully,” said Dave Redden, Marsh senior VP of human resources. “We have detailed policies outlining appropriate conduct at work and they have been administered consistently and fairly across the company. The former associate who admittedly violated a basic work rule was fully aware of the consequences of doing so. As the process continues, we remain confident that these allegations will ultimately be found to be without merit.”

Redden continued: “As a company, Marsh is very proud of the fair and open environment that has been a hallmark of our relationship with our associates for nearly 80 years. We have always respected and abided by the rules established by the National Labor Relations Board and any other governmental agency concerning employment matters.”

Federal labor charges were filed against Marsh last month and last November. The NLRB’s lawsuit “paints a picture of a company whose treatment of its employees consistently crosses the line into illegal and coercive behavior,” the UCFW said.

Marsh is owned by Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sun Capital Partners Inc.