PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The National Labor Relations Board’s regional director has certified the results of the Philadelphia Whole Foods’ union election, dismissing the grocery chain’s objections. That means negotiations should begin, but Whole Foods plans to appeal.
Workers overwhelmingly voted to organize in January, but Whole Foods filed objections that required a hearing, so it’s taken four months to make it official. But Wendell Young of United Food and Commercial Workers, which will represent the workers, said it was a complete victory.
“I mean, it wasn’t even close. It wasn’t like some of the company’s arguments had merits. None of them did. It was a clear and unambiguous victory for these workers,” Young said.
Whole Foods said it disagrees with the ruling and will appeal to the full National Labor Relations Board in Washington.
Employee Ed Dupree said the workers are braced for more appeals but feel the certification already is providing more protections.
“It gives more weight to our existence. What Whole Foods was doing was denying our Weingarten rights, which is something that we can actually have enforced with the certification,” Dupree said.
Weingarten rights protect workers from unfair disciplinary actions. Dupree says they’ll keep working toward the goal of a contract.