Albertson's shareholders greeted by full-page union ad, special report.

BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 1997--Shareholders in town for the fourth largest grocery chain's annual meeting were greeted this morning by a full-page ad in the Idaho Statesman, announcing that a 24-page "Special Report for Albertson's Stakeholders," prepared by the union that is financially supporting class action lawsuits against the company, would be available at the meeting.

The 1.4 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), which represents some 30,000 Albertson's employees, paid for the $7,000 ad through its "Workers' Advocacy Project" known as the UFCW/Albertson's Backpay Task Force.

It urges shareholders to find out the "facts about what's wrong at Albertson's -- instead of canned P.R. answers" by reading "The Special Report for Albertson's Stakeholders," which the ad said would be available from union representatives outside today's annual meeting in Boise Centre on the Grove.

The text of the union-sponsored ad follows: -0-

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   A Message for Albertson's Shareholders:
   What's Behind the Lawsuits Against Albertson's?

   Albertson's employees have filed seven class action lawsuits
against the chain.  Albertson's says there's no legitimacy to the
lawsuits, but we believe more than 5,000 sworn statements from
Albertson's employees from coast-to-coast demonstrate otherwise.
   These statements allege and describe illegal and abusive
employment practices, including: off-the-clock work; discouraging
the filing of worker's compensation claims; and failure to
accommodate disabled workers. Countless more employees tell us they
are waiting to give statements as soon as they receive court
protection from retaliation by Albertson's.
   We believe the reason why off-the-clock work occurs is simple:
Albertson's pays bonuses to its managers and promotes them based on
their meeting budgets and production quotas attainable only through
off-the-clock work.  While there is nothing inherently wrong with
incentives to motivate employees, Albertson's must do so in lawful
ways.
   Employees have a major stake in Albertson's growth and
profitability -- their jobs and the paychecks to support their
families.  They want lawful and productive employment practices so
employees can share in Albertson's prosperity.  They want a company
that is as devoted to its employees as the employees are to their
customers.
   As Albertson's shareholders enter Boise Centre on the Grove to
attend today's annual meeting, representatives of the United Food
and Commercial Workers International Union, AFL-CIO/CLC, will pass
out "A Special Report for Albertson's Stakeholders," prepared on
behalf of the 30,000 UFCW members employed by Albertson's.
   If you want the facts about what's wrong at Albertson's --
instead of canned P.R. answers -- we urge you to read the Special
Report.

                   This Message is Paid for by the
                 UFCW/Albertson's Backpay Task Force
                   A UFCW Worker's Advocacy Project
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NOTE TO EDITORS: Copies of the Special Report for Albertson's Stakeholders are also available by writing: UFCW/Albertson's Back Pay Task Force, 1775 K St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

CONTACT: United Food and Commercial Workers Union

Joe Peterson, 208/343-1000