Byline: Linda Helser, Staff writer
Scanning the green-tinted flier as she leaned over her grocery cart, Gloria Corrales' lips
curled in disgust.
In descriptive terms, it outlined a variety of health violations Maricopa County inspectors had recorded in 1995 for the Southwest Supermarkets chain.
Roaches, mice droppings and fruit flies were among the infractions. Also included in the glossy flyer was how such rodents and insects can transmit diseases or cause illness.
The flier, distributed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99, the state's largest union and one that primarily represents grocery store workers, was clearly having the affect it intended.
''But I have no problems here,'' said the two-year customer at Southwest Supermarket's 19th Avenue and Osborn location. ''I don't see any animals here. It's not very very clean, but it's clean enough.''
Still, Corrales was confused and curious about what she read.
UFCW has circulated its flier, which was written in English and Spanish, focusing on the faults of nine of the 17 Southwest Supermarkets in the Valley for nearly a year said Michalle Baird, an organizer for the union.
Baird said the union mails the fliers to homes in neighborhoods adjoining the markets and has recently expanded circulation to include other neighborhoods. The union has also circulated the fliers in Tucson where there are Southwest groceries.
''We're trying to spark change and empower consumers,'' Baird said. ''They can either choose not to shop there or communicate with their store manager that 'I'm going to be on you and talk to the county health department to clean up this store.' ''
Jim Pack, president of Southwest Supermarkets, whose grocery workers are not unionized, disagreed with the union's motives.
''This is not new,'' he said, ''They've done this before to other groceries and it's just an attempt to force us to either unionize our workers or drive us out of business.''
Pack cited a similar campaign by the UFCW against the nonunion Food Lion grocery chain in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
''Besides, our health inspections are no better and no worse than any of our competitors,'' Pack said.
David Ludwig, manager of the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department that inspects markets, said Southwest Supermarkets are ''average'' when it comes to health infractions but that each and every store can be different on any given day. ''It all depends on the managers and how they're trained and how they train their people,'' he said. ''Some days are better than others.''
And Ludwig did cite one area where Southwest stores shine. When a correction in conditions needs to be made, upper management responds. ''They get things fixed quickly,'' he said. ''They get things corrected.''
The regional markets, whose target audience is the Hispanic customer, has also changed hands since July 1995.
''And since our purchase of the stores last summer we've really made a commitment to raise the standards by cleaning up the stores and improving the quality of the produce and beef,'' Pack said.
It isn't always easy. Many stores are housed in older, worn buildings that are more difficult to maintain.
Linoleum is often cracked, lighting is antiquated, and the general aesthetics cannot compete with newer, brighter supermarkets, a reporter observed.
''I try not to come here unless I absolutely have to,'' said Margaret, another shopper at the 19th Avenue and Osborn location who asked that her last name not be used. ''It just doesn't feel too clean here.''
But another shopper, who in March 1995 banned together with other neighbors and complained about the market's health and safety practices during a meeting with market representatives in St. Gregory's Catholic Church, said there has been a change under new management.
''It has improved,'' Janet Nehill said. ''Maybe not a whole lot, but I'll say it's improved about 25 percent. I see them mopping and sweeping the floor more and they have enough clerks now.''
Others, like Richard Fox, have lingering reservations.
''I was in there at Christmas and the place still gives me the heebie-jeebies,'' he said.