More than 30 unionized meat department workers at Times Super Market have been recalled to work, but the status of the remaining striking employees is uncertain and the labor unrest at the 12 O'ahu stores is far from being resolved.

The 116 members of the Hawai'i Teamsters & Allied Workers Local 996 went on strike Dec. 17 over medical benefits. The striking meat department employees represent about 11 percent of the Times workforce.

A day after the employees walked off their jobs, Times began advertising for replacement workers. The company didn't say how many workers were hired, but the union last week sent Times a "return-to-work" offer in an attempt to stop the company from displacing the striking workers.

Times agreed to bring back 34 workers and said it would recall more "as business conditions allow." The union, however, accused management of unfair labor practices because it said Times refused to say what will happen to the remaining employees.

Ron Kozuma, Local 996 president, yesterday said Times wants to eliminate deli clerk positions, the guarantee of a 40-hour workweek and the employee retirement plan. He said the company also wants to reduce its contribution to individual or family medical coverage for employees on long-term medical leave.

Kozuma yesterday called for the public to boycott all Times stores.

"Many of these people have been loyal Times employees for 20 or 30 years," Kozuma said.

Bob Stout, Times director of store operations, characterized the union's tactics as "disturbing" and said there's no reason to call for a boycott.

He did not say how the work stoppage has affected Times operations so far.

Stout said management's last contract offer included "the largest wage increase in over 20 years, medical coverage for employees and their families, 401(k) plan contributions and other incentives." He said the union's demand that Times provide its workers with medical coverage "in perpetuity" is unreasonable.

"We do consider ourselves an 'ohana at Times. But we're also a business," Stout said. "Sometimes we need to do what's best for the financial health of the overall 'ohana, not just a few of its members. This is one of those cases."

Although the striking employees represent 11 percent of the Times workforce, Stout said the union workers account for 40 percent of the overtime costs and 67 percent of the workers' compensation expenses.

No new talks are scheduled.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.