Obama intervenes in labor dispute

LONDON, June 25 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama has asked the head of a British-based supermarket chain to reconsider its policy of not dealing with labor unions in the United States.

The presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential nominee made the request in a letter to Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy just two days before the company's annual stockholders meeting, The Times of London reported Wednesday.

"I urge you to reconsider your policy of non-engagement in the United States and advise your executives at Fresh & Easy to meet with the UFCW (United Food & Commercial Workers Union) and other community groups," Obama wrote.

The newspaper says the letter to Leahy is the second one that Obama has sent to the supermarket chain and comes just three weeks after the union told Tesco it would seek Obama's help.

The United Food & Commercial Workers has been trying to meet with Tesco representatives for the past two years.

An earlier Obama letter was sent to Tesco's U.S. chief, Tim Mason.