Grocery Union Files Racketeering Suit

The grocery workers’ union filed a second lawsuit alleging that Ralphs hired back union workers under false names and Social Security numbers despite an official lockout, this time saying the company broke federal racketeering laws.

The case mirrored a suit filed Friday in state Superior Court, in which the United Food and Commercial Workers union first made the allegations. The new suit was brought under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, which provides for triple damage awards if the claims are proved.

A Ralphs spokesperson was unavailable for comment. On Friday, Ralphs spokesman Terry O’Neil denied that managers of Ralphs, a unit of Kroger Co., knowingly hired back employees or engaged in deception.

Ralphs and Albertsons Inc. locked out UFCW workers one day after the union struck Safeway Inc.’s Vons and Pavilions chains Oct. 11 in a contract dispute. About 70,000 workers overall are idled at 852 stores in Southern and Central California.

-- James F. Peltz