Jan 28, 2010 9:10 pm US/Eastern
Kuhn's Market, Union Representatives At Odds
BANKSVILLE (KDKA) ―
Before long, the leaflet campaign by the union was put to an end by a security guard. KDKA
The United Food Workers Union handed out leaflets to shoppers at Kuhn's Market in Banksville.
The leaflets cited a series of health code violations at Kuhn's area stores.
"Last year the Allegheny County Health Department found critical violations of the health code in more than half of the Kuhn's chain," Ed Ribeau, a spokesperson for the union, said.
"That's an absolute lie," Joe Dentici, the owner of Kuhn's, told KDKA-TV.
He says his stores are clean and safe.
"We've never had an issue with any kind of health issues in the store as far as anybody getting sick or anything like that – never," Dentici said.
So who's telling the truth?
KDKA-TV's Paul Martino did an independent review of Allegheny County's inspection of seven Kuhn's stores last year.
There were some violations, including salad stored at unsafe temperatures, contamination from raw meat, and more temperature problems.
The health department characterizes the violations as "not earth-shattering" and they say they were quickly corrected.
"And that can happen whenever you have human beings handling it, but it's spoken to immediately," Dentici said.
"Kuhn's is a very bad neighbor," Ribeau said.
Before long, the leaflet campaign by the union was put to an end by a security guard.
Inside the store, KDKA-TV cameras caught a bird flying inside the store – another health code violation.
Kuhn's said an exterminator was on the way to get rid of the bird.
Additionally, Kuhn's says the union is trying to harm the reputation of the store because they have been unable to unionize it so far.
The United Food Workers say they're not trying to organize the store but admit they have been talking to some employees at the store.
The Allegheny County Health Department says the Kuhn's stores in our area are safe for the public.
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