Workers at a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union on Monday, Jan. 27. The group became the first Whole Foods workers to unionize since Amazon took over the grocery chain in 2017.
How close was the vote?
The store is located in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden neighborhood. It has about 300 workers. The vote was 130 in favor and 100 against, according to a spokesperson for the UFCW.
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What are the key issues?
The yes vote is seen as a move to put pressure on Amazon when it comes to higher wages and safety improvements.
Amazon countered that it does not need unions.
The company has about 1.4 million front-line workers for Amazon and Whole Foods, which does not include tens of thousands of contracted delivery drivers.
What is the recent history of labor and Amazon?
Employee activism heightened in 2024, with workers holding demonstrations and creating online petitions.
The formation of unions could break the control Amazon has over its workforce when it comes to issues such as wages, the pace of work, long hours and safety precautions.
What is the reaction from union leadership?
A statement on the UFCW website indicates the workers are seeking better hours and wages as part of a better future while working at Whole Foods.
The same union represents workers at big-name grocery stores, Kroger and Albertsons. It has 835,000 members.
What is the reaction from Whole Foods and Amazon?
Amazon previously said it respects the workers’ right to join, or not to join, a union.
However, Whole Foods said in a statement that it is disappointed by the outcome of the election in Philadelphia, saying it already offers competitive compensation, great benefits and career advancement for employees.
