Union workers protest move of Sprouts grocery chain to Castro Valley

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Some Castro Valley residents are angry because a union representing grocery workers is blocking a store they would love to have in their community.

Cheryl Miraglia says she and others in Castro Valley will not be deterred by what they believe are bullying tactics by the local grocery workers union to keep a non-union store from moving into their town.

The would-be tenant is a Sprouts store, a small grocery that features fresh produce and bulk items. It's an Arizona-based chain that hires non-union workers.

After years of planning and approvals, an 11th-hour appeal was filed with Alameda County alleging the new Sprouts store and the renovation of the Rite-Aid on the existing footprint violates the California Environmental Quality Act.

The appeal was filed by Cassandra Hunter, a Castro Valley resident, who also happens to be on the executive board of the United Grocery Workers, local 5.

"I think we're going to work real hard on letting the union know in a very nice way of course that the community wants this to happen and would like to see them cooperate," said Bill Mulgrew of the Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Reached on her cellphone, Hunter hung up on ABC7 News. The union and her San Francisco attorney did not return calls for comment.

In the meantime, the Sprouts project is on hold.

Click here for a petition to support the Sprouts project in Castro Valley.