After successful unionization efforts by Amazon workers in a Staten Island warehouse and more widely across Amazon’s third-party delivery operations, employees at an Amazon-owned Whole Foods store in Philadelphia have voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union. It’s the first move by Whole Foods workers to unionize and more may follow as public opinion has turned overwhelmingly positive toward unions, rising from 48% approval in 2019 to 70% last year, according to Gallup.
Public opinion has turned overwhelmingly pro-union since the pandemic, according to Gallup public ... [+]
Whole Foods’ employees at the City Center Philadelphia Whole Foods store voted Monday in favor of joining UFCW local chapter 1776 and now the union is ready to negotiate a “fair first contract that reflects workers’ needs and priorities.”
In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, a Whole Foods spokesperson said it was disappointed in the election outcome but promised to maintain a “positive working environment in our Philly Center City store.”
The UFCW represents 835,000 grocery store workers at Kroger, Albertsons-Safeway, and Ahold Delhaize’s Stop & Shop and Giant chains, among others.
In November, the Philadelphia Whole Foods employees filed with the National Labor Relations Board to form a union to represent the store’s cashiers, butchers, cooks, dishwashers and online fulfillment workers. Claiming the company had “threatened and intimidated” pro-union employees and “spied on” union activities, workers filed charges with the NLRB earlier this month. And three members of Congress from Philadelphia followed up with a letter to Amazon chair Jeff Bezos and Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel expressing concern about reported anti-unionization efforts and urged them to see the union vote be held without “interference.” The company disputes such charges. The preliminary unionization vote came in 130 for and 100 against after 230 of the store’s 300 employees voted.
According to local PBS station WHYY, Whole Foods workers are looking for at least $17 per hour pay, more affordable healthcare benefits with lower minimums and improved retirement benefits. They also complained about how Amazon’s frenetic pace of work has rubbed off at Whole Foods, taking a physical and emotional toll on employees. The Whole Foods workers felt an “extra layer of consternation” with the company’s ownership by billionaire Jeff Bezos, ranked by Forbes as the nation’s second richest person after Elon Musk. Amazon bought the then 460-store Whole Foods chain in 2017 for $13.7 billion. It has since grown to about 500 stores.
“This win sends a powerful message to workers everywhere that when we stand together, we can take on even the largest corporations and win. Whole Foods and its parent company, Amazon, have long resisted unionization efforts, but this election shows that workers’ determination and unity can triumph,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement.
For some time, Amazon workers have battled the retail giant for better pay, benefits and working conditions. Safety violations in Amazon warehouses have been documented by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In a first unionization move, some 5,000 workers at an Amazon Staten Island warehouse organized the Amazon Labor Union, which has since affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters under ALU-IBT. So far no other U.S. warehouses have voted to unionize, though many third-party delivery drivers have joined the Teamsters. However, next month another 5,000 Amazon warehouse workers in North Carolina are set to vote to unionize under the Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE).
The Teamsters report that union membership is picking up across the country. After new general president Sean O’Brien and secretary-treasurer Fred Zukerman assumed Teamster leadership in March 2022, the number of Teamsters union members has grown by 70,000, well above the 57,000 new members added over the previous decade.
Despite there being only one unionized Amazon warehouse stateside, workers in an Amazon warehouse in Quebec organized last year. This was followed by a company decision to close all seven Quebec Amazon warehouses resulting in the loss of some 2,000 jobs. Amazon claimed that the decision was made for business reasons and had nothing to do with the unionization effort. The CBC reported an Amazon spokesperson said the warehouse closures were in the name of greater efficiency and cost effectiveness. “We’ve been using third-party carriers in Quebec for many years. Returning to a well-tested third-party model will allow us to provide the same great service and even more savings to our customers over the long run.”
Earlier today President Trump fired a member of the National Labor Relations Board and its general counsel, leaving only two board members seated, according to Bloomberg Law. Until new members are appointed, the NLRB can’t deliver decisions because the Supreme Court ruled that a quorum of three members is required to issue rulings. “While there are significant issues with firing the NLRB members, at a minimum this will gum up the works for the many months it will take to sort out,” shared labor and employment partner Jane Jacobs with Tarter, Krinsky & Drogin law firm.
UFCW Congratulates Whole Foods Workers on Union Victory (UFCW release, 1/28/2025)
Workers at Philadelphia Whole Foods vote to form first union for Amazon-owned supermarket chain (CNN, 1/28/2025)
Amazon-owned Whole Foods store in Philadelphia becomes first to unionize (New York Post, 1/28/2025)
Center City Whole Foods workers vote in favor of unionizing (WHYY, 1/28/2025)
Labor Unions (Gallup Poll, 8/2024)
Impact Of The New Trump Administration On Labor Unions by Jane Jacobs (HR.com, 12/23/2024)