Employees at a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia have voted to unionize, marking a significant victory for organized labor in Amazon's grocery sector. This win is the first successful entry of organized labor into Amazon's grocery business, which includes Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon Go convenience stores.
Employees at a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, voted to unionize on Monday, marking the first labor victory for organized workers at an Amazon -owned grocery store. The Philadelphia store, located at 2101 Pennsylvania Avenue, saw 130 employees, or about 57% of those who cast ballots, vote in favor of joining a local chapter of The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) for collective bargaining purposes.
The National Labor Relations Board, which oversaw the election, reported that 100 workers rejected the unionization effort. 'This fight is far from over, but today's victory is an important step forward,' said Wendell Young IV, president of UFCW Local 1776. 'We are ready to bring Whole Foods to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair first contract that reflects the workers’ needs and priorities.' This win marks the first successful entry of organized labor into Amazon's grocery business, which includes Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon Go convenience stores. Amazon, which acquired Whole Foods in 2017 for $13.7 billion, has actively tried to prevent organizing efforts in its stores, as well as among delivery drivers and warehouse workers. Nearly three years ago, Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island, New York City, voted to be represented by a nascent union that has since affiliated with the Teamsters. However, Amazon has refused to engage in bargaining negotiations. Workers at the Philadelphia Whole Foods store began organizing in early 2022, according to Young. They partnered with UFCW Local 1776 in late summer and, in November, petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to hold an official election. The local union stated that the store workers sought higher wages, affordable healthcare coverage, childcare support, improved work-life balance, and better working conditions through unionization. In a statement after the vote count on Monday night, Whole Foods expressed pride in offering competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and career development opportunities to all employees. 'We are disappointed by the outcome of this election, but we are committed to maintaining a positive working environment in our Philly Center City store,' the company added. Whole Foods maintains that it provides store employees with a competitive average hourly wage and additional benefits, including 401(k) plans and on-demand mental health support. They did not disclose their average hourly rate, though online job postings suggest store employees can earn $16 per hour or more. Following the union's election petition, workers at the Philadelphia store received complimentary snacks, and the company repainted their break rooms, according to Young. Earlier this month, UFCW Local 1776 filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB against Whole Foods, alleging that the company fired an employee in retaliation for union activities and that supervisors informed employees they would receive higher pay if they voted against the union. Whole Foods refuted the claim of retaliatory firing. The union also accused Whole Foods of withholding region-wide wage increases from employees at the Philadelphia store due to union activities. The company acknowledged that it did not offer wage increases to workers at this specific store, even though it did so at numerous other stores as part of a quarterly review. Whole Foods asserts that it would have been illegal to make wage adjustments leading up to the union election, a claim Young disputes. The company stated that it delayed the pay raises until after the election to avoid the appearance of influencing the vote with financial incentives.Amazon, headquartered in Seattle, has consistently resisted unionization efforts by its employees. Amazon delivery drivers staged strikes in several U.S. cities before Christmas to pressure the company into recognizing them as unionized employees or meeting demands for an initial labor contract. Workers at an Amazon warehouse in North Carolina are scheduled to vote next month on whether they want to be represented by a new union called Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment. The retail giant has challenged the structure of the National Labor Relations Board in court
UNIONIZATION AMAZON WHOLES FOODS LABOR RELATIONS RETAIL WORKERS PHILADELPHIA
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