Philadelphia Whole Foods workers form first successful union

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Philadelphia Whole Foods workers form first successful union

Alke Boessiger Deputy General Secretary | UNI Global Union

By Sky Industry News

Jan 31, 2025

Whole Foods workers in Philadelphia have successfully formed a union with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 1776. This marks the first successful labor drive at the Amazon-owned grocery chain.

Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, commented on this development: “Whole Foods workers have overcome Amazon’s aggressive union-busting to secure a voice on the job. This victory is inspiring, not just for Whole Food workers in the U.S., but Amazon workers worldwide. It shows that not even the most powerful companies in the world can stop workers from organizing and demand the fair treatment they deserve.”

The majority of employees at the Philadelphia store voted in favor of joining UFCW during an election conducted by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The vote occurred despite Amazon's opposition to unions across its various business sectors.

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“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.”

The unionization effort began early last year with demands including higher wages, affordable healthcare, childcare support, better work-life balance, and improved working conditions.

Marc Perrone, president of UFCW International, celebrated this achievement: “Today, we celebrate an incredible victory for the workers at Whole Foods in Philadelphia who have stood together to secure the union representation they deserve. This win sends a powerful message to workers everywhere that when we stand together, we can take on even the largest corporations and win.”

In response to these developments, UFCW Local 1776 has filed charges with NLRB against Whole Foods. The charges allege withholding wage increases from Philadelphia store employees due to their union efforts and retaliating against pro-union staff.