*The Michigan Daily-Sunday, April 11, 1982-Page 3 Rumors of store closings denied By SUSAN RACEY Rumors that local Kroger and Farmer Jack super- markets will be closing are unfounded, according to representatives of both supermarket chains. "That'rumor's been going around for two years," said Ciris Beslaer, advertising manager at Kroger Company headquarters in Livonia, Mich. HE SAID THE rumors probably began when some of Kroger's officials made public statements about financial strain. which they said were hitting the company as a result of the economic slowdown. Kroger officials had suggested that Kroger em- ployees would have to make wage concessions for the company to avoid financial difficulties. "There were never any ultimatums issued to my knowledge." said Beslaer. 'We are not in the position HIAPPENI of just turning the key and walking out on the issue." "We've approached all of our unions to ask for wage concessions or freezes - I can't be specific at this point," Beslaer said. "The forecast is becoming brighter though. Our teamsters union has voted for a wage freeze." All Kroger retail union employees will vote tomorrow according to Gail Clazie, co-manager of the Packard Road store in Ann Arbor. Beslaer said he is optimistic that the concessions wil help Kroger solve its financial problems. Kroger has stores in 26 states, primarily in the Midwest and Southwest, with 85 stores in Michigan. Beslaer said that Michigan is not a good state for the grocery industry. He noted Chatham super- markets are curently operating under the protection of Michigan's bankruptcy law. FARMER JACK supermarkets lost money last year, according to Robert Marquart, vice president for public relaitons for Farmer Jack stores, but the company will not be closing any outlets. In answer to inquiry about whether Farmer Jack stores would close soon, Marquart laughed and said, "Where in the world did you hear that?" We're one of the most thriving stores. We're No. 1 in Michigan. In fact, we've just opened a new store on Rosa Park boulevard in Detroit." Farmer Jack has 85 stores, with the majority in the Metropolitan Detroit area, three in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, one in Toledo and one in Kentucky. "I can't understand how that rumor started," Marquart said. INGS- Michigan's gloomy economy SUNDAY seen as worst in the nation (Continued from Page 1) I HIGHLIGHT An "Easter Festival" with a potluck soup and sandwich lunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rudolph Steiner Institute, 1923 Geddes Ave. FILMS Alice Lloyd Pilot Program- The CIA's Secret Army, 9 p.m., Red Lounge in Alice Lloyd. Cinema II - Jules and Jim, 7, 9 p.m., Lorch Hall. Classic Film Theatre - The Deer Hunter, 4,7:30 p.m., Michigan Theatre. Ann Arbor Film Co-op-Daisies, 7 p.m., MLB 4. MEETINGS a Graduate Women's Network - Potluck Brunch and Discussion on "Politics and Professional Life", 12-2 p.m.,Guild House, 802 Monroe. PERFORMANCES Creative Ensemble - "The Wine and the Wilderness," 8 p.m., Canterbury ' Loft,332S. State. School of Music - Campus and Repertory Bands, 4 p.m., Hill: Piano/Violin recital; Wendy Stofer/piano and George Watkins/violin, 4 p.m., Recital Hall; Horn students recital, 8 p.m., Stearns. MISCELLANEOUS . I WCBN-FM-African Rhythms: Traditional and contemporary music _ from the African continent and disapora, 1-3 p.m. Dick Siegal, 8-10 p.m. Recreational Sports Dept. - Family Funday Sunday, 2-4 p.m., NCRB. MONDAY HIGHLIGHT Tha annual Ham Shoot sponsored by the U-M Straight Shooters at the top floor of the North University Building begins today from 10 a.m. -8 p.m. FILMS Alice Lloyd Pilot Program- El Salvador - Another Viet Nam, 9:30 p.m., Alice Lloyd Red Lournge. ,.. Polish American Student Association - Without Anesthesia, 7:30 p.m.,4 .Angell Aud. A. Cinema Guild - My Michael, 7 p.m., Lorch Hall. Classic Film Theatre-The Deer Hunter, 4,7:30 p.m., Michigan Theatre. SPEAKERS Women's Network-Marilyn Phillips, "Women and Images of Disability In America," 11 a.m. -1 p.m., Michigan League. Political Science - Pierre Allan, "Afghan Guerillas: Prospects for Suc- cess," 12-1 p.m., .r.m. 4051, LSA. Chemistry Department - James Anderson, "Methods Used to Predict Structures of One Dimensional Metals," 4 p.m., rm. 1200, Chem. Macromolecular Research Center - Joginder Lal, "New Thermoplastic Elastomers and Ozone Resistant Rubbers," 4 p.m., rm. 3005 Chem. Bldg. Industrial Engineering Dept. - Brian Kuttner, "Approaching the Factory of tle Future," 3-4 p.m., rm. 243 West Engin. Program in American Culture - Bryan Wolf, "Where were you the night Rip Van Winkle came home?: Artistic Form and Cultural Criticism in Washington Irving and John Quidor," 4 p.m., W. Conference Room in Rackham. Center for European Studies -' Schulte Nordholt, "Dutch Travelers in the USA in the 19th Century," 8p.m., International Center. PERFORMANCES University Symphony Orchestra and University Choir - Haydn's "Creation," 8p.m., Hill Aud. MISCELLANEOUS SYDA Foundation Meditation class led by U-M Prof. Dick Mann, 7:30 p.m., 902 Baldwin., U-M Exhibit Planetarium - "Starbound" presentation, 1:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m., U-M planetarium. To submit items for the Happenings Column, send them in care of Happenings, The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, MI. 48109. on its promise to seek revisions in the Clean Air Act, Dingell said. "This indicates there will be small help for the auto industry or the Mid- west that has been so badly afflicted by Reaganomics." Detroiters, in particular, are feeling the effects of the New Federalism. The city had 'a minor heyday during the Carter administration when, due to President Carter's courting of urban blacks, Mayor Coleman Young was able to secure an influx of federal funds for a bevy of projects. Now the party appears over. In the past week both legislators and auto workers alike have been dragged, practically kicking and screaming, into doing something about their respective problems. In the State House Friday a ten- porary one percent income tax measure was passed to cover $300 million of the budget deficit. Senators declined to face the issue before an Easter recess, saying the wee hours of the morning were no time to begin debate. State officials say that unless the money is raised, the state's bond rating will suffer a disastrous reduction.. If this happens, Michigan will not be able to afford to borrow the money it desperately needs to make ends meet. At the same time, workers at General Motors Corp. barely approved a con- tract calling for $3 billion in concessions to the automaker in exchange for a moratorium on plant closing. The margin of victory for the pact was a slim four percent, despite the fact 150,000 of their fellow GM employees are without jobs. In the auto industry as a whole, a quarter of a million autoworkers are jobless. The 52 percent vote in favor of job- saving GM concessions worried 65- year-old UAW President Douglas Fraser,,whose face is etched deep with lines'reflecting the blows his union has suffered in the past three years of the industry's slump. "When this labor movement fails to be its brother's keeper, then we might as well cease to be a labor movement," Fraser said. But some workers with jobs did not share Fraser's concern a they voted against the contract this week. "I think it's a waste of time," said Pete Merlo, a relief man at Detroit's GM Fleetwood assembly plant for 27 years. "We worked hard to get what we got for so many years. I don't want my kids to go to the plant and start over to get what I got." The loss of an assembly line job also Paid Political Advertisement ED PIERCE DEMOCRAT FOR GOVERNOR Organizational Meeting Monday, April 12 9:30 Conference Room 5 Michigan Union Paid for by Sara Curran, member Student Democrats Assn. has meant the loss of valuable health care benefits for many workers. The UAW estimates 270,000 former auto workers are without medical care. Detroit-area doctors say visits have declined as much as 30 percent. Without the benefits, "many people are deferring all activities except the most necessary ones," said Stephen Blout, a medical consultant with the Detroit Health Department But doctors too, are feeling the pinch. "For the first time in my experience, doctors are definitely in economic straits because people aren't paying," said Leonard Portner, a physician who has a Detroit radio talk show. -------------- ------------ mmasmesasinamemammmmmm m n - -am m m - -smnema 1 I . $100 CASH CERTIFICATE 1 1 This certificate entitles bearer to receive 100 dollars cash 1 when a one year lease is signed for next Fall for a 1 or 2 bed- * room apartment, This offer is valid for new applicants only . 1 and expires April 23, 1982 1 " DA HLMfANN APARTMFI TS Resident Ma ger 543 CHURCH STREET ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48104 761-7600 1 1 L m mm mm m mm mm mlm9 mm mm m mm mm m mm mm mm m mmm mum Daily Photo by JEFF SCHRIER Music schoolin Practice makes the music student perfect, as Eric Edmunds, a junior in the school, attempts to prove last week in one of the practice rooms. YOU'RE ONE. YOU'RE IN GCDD COMPANY , University of Michigan - University of Wisconsin Academic Year in Florence, Italy Applications for Fall Semester 1982 Winter Semester 1983 Full Year 1982-1983 Congratulations, Graduates! You're about to join the good company of Pulitzer Prize- winning playwright Arthur Miller, CBS investigative re- porter Mike Wallace, opera singer Jessye Norman, actress Gilda Radner and the 300,000 other University of Michigan sociation can advertise, free of charge, in our "Employ- ment Wanted" column of the Alumnus magazine. Need insurance? You can participate in our low-cost term life insurance program. Moving to a new city? Our alumni clubs throughout the bership dues enable us to provide services such as student scholarships and teaching awards.) You see, we really would like you to be a part of us. You're one. You're in good company Pqo n>r.'i=r n