Hearing scheduled in case of firing of two Fresh & Easy employees

The National Labor Relations Board has scheduled an Oct. 27 hearing for representatives of Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market to answer allegations that it improperly fired two employees and illegally discouraged union membership.

The charges were filed by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in May and September claiming store managers discouraged union organizing by "promising its employees improved terms and conditions of employment if they refrained from" union activities. The union also claims the company fired an employee for trying to organize union actitivities.

Another charge was filed by another employee who was terminated in September. The employee "assisted the union and engaged in concerted activities" and was fired "to discourage employees from engaging in these activities," according to the board’s complaint, which was issued Friday.

Fresh & Easy, which could be asked to pay back wages for the terminated employees, has until Oct. 23 to answer the complaint.

Fresh & Easy is owned by British company Tesco, which operates 130 neighborhood stores in California, Nevada and Arizona, including 30 in Clark County.

Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.