CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago-area labor union has filed a federal lawsuit to block a company from selling two grocery store chains in Illinois and Indiana to an unknown buyer.
Teamsters Union Local 703 represents about 300 warehouse workers of Central Grocers in Joliet.
The union is asking for a judge to temporarily stop the company from selling its business.
The lawsuit argues that such a sale would violate collective bargaining agreements, unless the purchaser adopted them.
Central Grocers announced plans Tuesday to sell 22 Strack & Van Til stores in Illinois and Indiana.
It also plans to close nine Ultra Foods stores, including some in the Chicago area.
The Chicago Tribune reports a public relations firm for Central Grocers largely declined comment, saying only that the company was “exploring strategic alternatives.”
