By Dennis Marchi

I read with interest reporter Scott Moyer's article, "St. Francis nurses to decide on union." The piece reported organizational attempts made recently by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 655 and included comments made by a Schnucks associate. As manager of the Cape Girardeau Schnucks, I would like to share more factual information with your readers.

In the article, a meat cutter complained that his wages are lower than the wages of his union counterparts in St. Louis. He also pointed out that the Cape Girardeau store is the only non-union Schnucks store in Missouri. However, he failed to mention that there are several non-union Schnucks stores in Illinois and Indiana. Union or non-union, it is more accurate to compare wages within the economic boundaries of one's own community including variances in the cost of living.

On that basis, the salaries of meat cutters in St. Louis are higher (consistent among all supermarkets in the area) than salaries in Cape Girardeau. In fact, no union meat cutters in Schnucks stores outside the St. Louis market make St. Louis wages.

I'm proud to say Schnucks associates in Cape Girardeau receive the highest wage and benefits packages offered by any area supermarket. Over the past six years, their pay raises have averaged 34 cents an hour. The hourly wage for a journeyman meat cutter is $13.60, or $28,288 (based on 40 hours a week) annually, not including time-and-a-half for overtime. That represents the highest base pay for meat cutters not only in Cape Girardeau, but also in all of Southeast Missouri.

Cape Girardeau Schnucks associates also receive annual pay reviews and are eligible for bonuses in years when profit allows. For instance, from 1997 to 2000, the meat cutter mentioned in the article received an annual bonus averaging $1,905 (about 7 percent of salary). That's the equivalent of about 91 cents an hour. St. Louis meat cutters are not eligible for this bonus.

Company leaders believe our associates deserve the very best employment packages we can offer. However, setting salaries too far above those of other area grocers would hurt our ability to offer competitive prices and put jobs at risk, and that's simply not good business. Schnucks is known for good business practices. I am proud of its reputation for treating all associates fairly and with respect, paying market wages and providing bonuses and excellent benefits packages.

Dennis Marchi is the store manager of Schnucks in Cape Girardeau.