STRIKE WON'T HVE EFFECT HERE

If a meatcutters' union strike occurs in St. Louis, supermarkets in Cape Girardeau would not be affected because employees of supermarkets in Cape Girardeau are not affiliated with the union.

Meatcutters Local 88 in St. Louis, representing over 2,000 butchers, deli and seafood workers at 97 stores owned by Schnucks, National, and Dierbergs markets in Missouri and Illinois, have been working without a contract since June 12.

On Thursday, the parent union of the local, the United Food and Commercial Workers International, said the local can strike if necessary. On Saturday, the local president said the union is prepared to strike as early as Tuesday.

Dennis Marchi, manager of the Cape Girardeau Schnucks store, said the strike "won't affect us. The strike wouldn't affect any store in town if it happens. Our store has no affiliation with that union; it is a St. Louis local only."

Marchi said he believes the dispute will soon be settled without a strike.

If a strike does occur, Marchi said he has been advised that he, and possibly one or two other managers of the Schnucks store here, would be sent to St. Louis to help out.