Is a Whole Foods Union on the Horizon? Philadelphia Employees Have Officially Filed

Whole Foods staff in Philadelphia made waves earlier today when they filed to unionize at the major grocery chain. The workers took action during the supermarket’s busiest and most profitable time of the year, announcing that “it’s time for us to fight for what we deserve,” by filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold a union election. The filing was supported by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 1776. 

“An overwhelming majority of workers at our store have made it clear: We need a collective voice to fight for what we deserve,” the group said in a statement issued by UFCW 1776, which represents over a million members in the United States and Canada. “No one should have to beg for fair compensation and better working conditions while working for one of the most profitable organic grocers in the world.” 

In a statement from Whole Foods Market sent to Food & Wine, the chain said it remains “committed to listening to our team members, making changes based on their feedback ,and treating all of our team members fairly in a safe, inclusive working environment, while providing our team members with career advancement opportunities, great benefits and market competitive compensation.” 

Whole Foods — which employees over 105,000 people across its 518 stores — also noted in its statement that it recognizes the rights of the workers to “make an informed decision on whether union representation is right for them,” adding that the company agrees with the “overwhelming majority of our team members who value our open-door policy and our ability to quickly respond to the needs of our workforce.” 

In their statement published with UFCW 1776, the workers group cited the stark contrast between the company’s $93.8 billion in gross profits in 2023, the large paychecks that major Amazon shareholders take home, and the brand’s inability to pay its employees a living wage. “Team members struggle to afford rent, healthcare, childcare and other basic necessities,” the staff wrote. “We work hard and have a lot of passion for what we do. Some of us have been with Whole Foods for decades. But no matter how long we’ve been with the company, we should all be recognized and compensated fairly for our work.” 

The workers also pointed out the challenges of their jobs, noting that stocking shelves, lifting, bending, and standing for hours are physically demanding tasks. When paired with the increasing demand for faster labor that the staff faces, it becomes difficult to balance health and safety with a desire to meet performance standards and satisfy customers.

The formal petition to unionize filed with the NLRB outlined that the new union, if approved and passed, would extend to 300 full and regular part time employees at the store’s 2101 Pennsylvania Ave., Philadelphia, location. Some positions such as clerical workers and store leads are excluded from the petition, as noted in the filing.

This isn’t the first effort to form a Whole Foods union, according to UFCW. In 2002, Madison, Wisconsin, workers voted to unionize with UFCW Local 1444, but negotiations with the company stalled and no formal contract was reached. A pending election on unionization in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, has also been on hold since a filing in November 2003.  

To learn more about the steps to forming a union, head here.