Chain sued by union

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Monday, Jan. 5, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- The union representing striking grocery clerks sued Ralphs Grocery Co., claiming the chain hired locked out employees to secretly work under false names and Social Security numbers.

The suit, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims that in some instances the workers locked out by Ralphs were brought back on the payroll using the names of their minor children or relatives, a violation of law.

Ralphs spokesman Terry O'Neil said it is company policy not to comment on lawsuits. But he disputed the gist of the suit filed by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 770. Ralphs is owned by Kroger Co., owner of Smith's Food & Drug Centers and Food 4 Less stores in Las Vegas.