Workers protesting conditions at a West Chester pork-cutting plant gained the backing of five church groups Monday in a one-hour picket outside the headquarters of the plant's sole customer — Kroger Co.

        The three dozen pickets braved freezing temperatures to urge Kroger to adopt a supplier code of conduct calling for equitable pay, affordable family medical insurance and a safe work place. Kroger, which was not represented in the sidewalk gathering, said such a code isn't necessary.

        “Kroger has standards for our suppliers,” the company said in a statement. “These standards include requiring suppliers to follow all applicable laws in every area of their operation. This includes laws regarding worker health and safety and the right to be represented under a collective bargaining agreement.”

        The 65 or so workers at Cincinnati Processing, almost all of whom are Hispanic, belong to the United Food & Commercial Workers. But the workers have failed to reach an employment contract. The union says the company isn't interested in making economic concessions to its work force.

        “To date, they have maintained that, because they have such a small profit margin, they can't afford to produce any improvement in wages and benefits,” said Ron Mattock, a UFCW negotiator.

        Cincinnati Processing called the union's accusations baseless.

        “The company has bargained in good faith and has made numerous compromises to get a contract,” it said in a statement. “This dispute is really about dues money — dues the union wants Cincinnati Processing to force its employees to pay, dues many employees don't want to pay.”

        Unhappy with the company's position, the UFCW and the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council took their case to Kroger, whose employment practices they saluted. They were joined Monday by Bill Re, representing the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; Rabbi George Barnard, president of the Cincinnati Board of Rabbis; and representatives of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, United Church of Christ and St. Francis Xavier.

        “We're all God's chil dren,” said Mr. Re, secretary of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. “When some are being hurt, you need to get involved and speak up. We're asking Kroger to get involved because they're in a position of power and influence.”

        The UFCW says Cincinnati Processing workers start at $7.50 an hour and average $8.60. Family health coverage costs $50 a week. The union says Kroger meat cutters earn $12 to $15 an hour and have an employer-paid health plan. Comparable work at Hillshire Farms, Kahn's and John Morrell & Co., it says, pays about $12 an hour.

        The UFCW filed a National Labor Relations Board complaint against Cincinnati Processing last August, accusing it of bargaining in bad faith. The company has since instituted safety procedures and employee training, although not to the degree the union says it should. The company says it has a good health and safety record.

        Cincinnati Processing is a unit of Empire Packing, a privately held Memphis company with $25 million in sales in 2000. Kroger said it won't meddle in its suppliers' affairs.

        “We have investigated concerns about health and safety conditions at Cincinnati Processing and will continue to monitor the situation,” the company said.

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