CAMDEN - A Wegmans employee claims he was demoted and described as the "slicer police" after complaining of allegedly unsanitary conditions at the chain's Mount Laurel store.

The worker, Vasudev Unni,reported slicing machines in the supermarket's café “were not properly cleaned” on multiple occasions between July 2017 and September 2018, according to a lawsuit pending in federal court here.

The suit contends Unni’s complaints about "unsanitary slicers" were a “motivating factor” when the seven-year employee was moved to a lower position late last year.

Wegmans cannot comment on Unni's claims "because this is an ongoing personnel matter," company representative Jo Natale said Tuesday.

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Wegmans, based in Rochester, New York, is one of the country's largest private firms with 49,000 employees at 99 stores.

It has nine stores in New Jersey, including a second local outlet in Cherry Hill.

According to the lawsuit, Unni joined Wegmans in 2012 and became a service team leader at the Mount Laurel store in April 2017.

In that position, Unni “was a key holder for the store and was responsible for overseeing front-end operations,” the lawsuit says. His responsibilities included “reviewing the sub shop to make sure it was clean and prepared for the next day,” it added.

The suit says Unni reported his concerns to the café manager, store manager, executive chefs and others at Wegman before meeting with “upper management” in September 2018.

It says a division manager Joe Sofia, “appeared upset” that Unni had brought a timeline of his complaints to the meeting, “but stated that he would address the issue.”

According to the lawsuit, Unni was told at the meeting that he was "very black and white" and that "he needed to work on 'flexing' in given situations.”

It also says a human relations employee, Tom Jeppi, claimed the Hamilton resident was "trying to be hero."

Jeppi previously referred to Unni as the "slicer police," the suit claims.

The suit says Unni on Dec. 13 received a written warning and demotion to the cheese department at the Centerton Road store.

The job change meant Unni “was no longer a key holder, was ineligible for a raise for six months, could not apply to any open positions and could not assist in other store openings,” the lawsuit says.

Unni, who is still a Wegmans employee, contends the company violated a state law protecting whistleblowers.

His lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for “economic and emotional harms.” It also demands payment for Unni’s legal bills.

The suit was filed in state court, Mount Holly, in May by Daniel Silverman, a Mount Laurel attorney. It was moved to Camden federal court this week at Wegmans’ request.

Jim Walsh is a free-range reporter who’s been roaming around South Jersey for decades. His interests include crime, the courts, economic development and being first with breaking news. Reach him at jwalsh@gannettnj.com or look for him in traffic.

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