From today’s CNN Business:
Workers at a Pennsylvania Whole Foods store voted on Monday to unionize, forming the first union in the organic grocery chain owned by Amazon.
A majority of the employees at the flagship store in Philadelphia’s Center City neighborhood voted to join a local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), which represents hundreds of thousands of employees at grocery chains nationwide. The union said 130 workers voted in favor and 100 workers voted against the move.
In a statement to CNN, the union local chapter called the vote “a significant victory in their fight for fair wages, improved benefits, and a safer, more supportive workplace,” claiming the workers faced anti-union pressure and intimidation from Amazon in the lead-up to the vote.
“This fight is far from over, but today’s victory is an important step forward,” said chapter President Wendell Young IV. “We are ready to bring Whole Foods to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair first contract that reflects the workers’ needs and priorities.”
Whole Foods said in a statement it was “disappointed” by the results of the vote, but assured it was “committed to maintaining a positive working environment in our Philly Center City store.”
The company added it “is proud to offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and career advancement opportunities to all Team Members.”
Amazon has faced – and fought – several unionizing initiatives at its different businesses, most notably at its warehouses and delivery drivers. In one case, the workers succeeded in approving a union at a Staten Island warehouse, but the company has not joined the bargaining table so far. Delivery drivers have succeeded in unionizing in a few states, among them California, New York and Georgia.
Read the complete story here.