In a historic move, employees at a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia voted on Monday to unionize, becoming the first location within Amazon’s organic grocery chain to do so.
The vote, which ended with 130 workers in favor and 100 opposed, marks a significant development in Amazon’s ongoing efforts to counter unionization across its various businesses.
The workers at the Center City store opted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776, a union representing hundreds of thousands of grocery employees nationwide. UFCW praised the vote as a “significant victory” in the fight for better wages, improved benefits, and safer working conditions.
“This fight is far from over,” said Wendell Young IV, President of UFCW Local 1776. “But today’s victory is an important step forward. 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 expressed disappointment with the vote but emphasized its commitment to maintaining a positive work environment.
“We offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and career advancement opportunities to all team members,” the company said in a statement.
The union victory follows accusations from UFCW and employees that Whole Foods management engaged in an aggressive anti-union campaign. Workers reported increased monitoring, anti-union messaging, and alleged retaliation against pro-union employees. In December, UFCW filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Whole Foods, citing allegations of employee discrimination and surveillance.
Just days before the vote, three US representatives from Pennsylvania wrote a letter to Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, urging the company to refrain from obstructing the election and to respect its outcome.
Store employees have voiced concerns over stagnant wages, unpredictable schedules, and what they describe as an unsustainable workload. Several long-serving employees noted frustration over reduced benefits and staffing cuts since Amazon acquired Whole Foods in 2017.
“We need improvements to our material conditions,” said Ben Lovett, an employee who played a key role in the union drive.
Others hope this victory will spark similar efforts at other Whole Foods locations across the country.
Labor experts suggest that the union win at Whole Foods may encourage more organizing efforts, much like union drives at Starbucks stores across the United States.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it has a snowball effect,” said Brishen Rogers, a labor law professor at Georgetown University.
The vote adds to a growing list of unionization attempts across Amazon’s operations, including its warehouses and delivery services. Workers at a Staten Island warehouse successfully formed a union in 2022 but have yet to secure a contract, as Amazon has resisted recognizing or negotiating with the group.
Amazon maintains that unions are unnecessary and has consistently pushed back against unionization efforts, stating that it offers competitive pay and comprehensive benefits to employees. The company has faced allegations of violating federal labor laws in multiple cases and continues to challenge union efforts in court.
While Whole Foods has five days to contest the vote, UFCW leaders remain optimistic about negotiating the first contract for the newly unionized Philadelphia store, which employs roughly 300 workers.
