Close to 100 drivers for United Natural Foods, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia, have joined Teamsters Local 728.
The move was approved by 95% of the voters and ends a month-long effort by UNFI workers to unionize.
Over one thousand UNFI workers have joined a union over the last year or so, including a group of more than 150 employees at Tony’s Fine Foods in California, which is owned by UNFI, back in January.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 4,000 UNFI workers and is claiming the company says the National Labor Relations Board should not have conducted the election in Georgia because it outsourced drivers to an anti-union carrier.
Stephen Oloyde, a 22-year-old driver at UNFI, said the outsourcing, along with improved wages, better benefits, a pension, and job security, are the reasons why he voted to join Teamsters Local 728.
“This resonant victory is just the latest example of UNFI workers joining together to take control of their workplace. Our momentum keeps growing, and each win is a resounding declaration to corporations everywhere: Workers will not be silenced, intimidated, or exploited,” said Tom Erickson, director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “We will not allow this company to take its workers for granted. If UNFI wants to continue committing serious unfair labor practices, they will embolden and mobilize more workers to join our fight. And we will continue to win.”
UNFI did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication of this story.