Tesco having problems with US unions

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union in the US, have accused Tesco of "arrogance" and "hypocrisy" for refusing to recognise shopworker unions in the US, where it has built a chain of 60 supermarkets and has plans to open hundreds more.

The UFCW said it had been seeking talks with Tesco for two years since the world's third-largest retailer announced its entry into the US grocery market. UFCW's campaigns director Emily Stewart said, Tesco had refused all attempts to open a dialogue in the US. "Over the past two years they have consistently played delaying tactics, rebuffing us and finally absolutely refusing to even meet with us. It is an incredibly reasonable request, just to begin a discussion." The union has been leafleting customers outside the US stores, calling on them to boycott the chain.

The UFCW has also published a report called "The Two Faces of Tesco", which the union's leader, Joseph Hansen, described as a "damning dossier of contradiction, double-speak and hypocrisy." It alleges that American workers are not entitled to contracts, which means they could be dismissed without warning, and that staff have to count sick leave as holiday. The report also complains of paltry pension and health benefits.

Jon Cruddas, the Labour MP for Dagenham (UK), joined the union in calling on Tesco to open talks and said the supermarket threatened to undermine its reputation in the UK, where it has recognised the shopworkers' union since 1969. Cruddas said he would be writing to Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy and looking to win support from other politicians. "In this country Tesco recognises unions as valuable partners. I don't see personally why that should stop at the borders."

A Tesco spokesman said: "The UFCW do not reflect the views of Fresh & Easy staff who are overwhelmingly in favour of the pay and benefits they receive. For every one store job we have created we have received more than 13 applications and surveys of Fresh & Easy staff show that our people are happy with their jobs. Clearly they believe Fresh & Easy is a great place to work."