NLRB clears hurdle for Whole Foods unionization effort

Source: Supermarket News

Store in Philadelphia was first in the chain to authorize representation by organized labor

Mark Hamstra June 15, 2026

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board has dismissed Amazon’s objections to the unionization of a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia.

Workers at the store became the first—and so far, only—Whole Foods to authorize a union in January of last year, but the two sides have yet to begin bargaining.

Following Monday’s NLRB ruling, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 in Philadelphia said it will formally issue a demand for bargaining and is calling on Whole Foods to begin negotiating in good faith.

“The company has spent months delaying the process and retaliating against known union supporters,” said Wendell Young IV, president of UFCW 1776. “With this ruling, there could not be a clearer obligation to bargain.”

Read more: https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-labor/nlrb-clears-hurdle-for-whole-foods-unionization-effort