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John,
Like workers at Starbucks who recently won their first union elections, workers at Trader Joe’s are joining a new surge of union organizing.
Trader Joe’s United has now won elections to represent workers at four Trader Joe’s stores, located in Oakland, Louisville, Minneapolis, and Hadley, Massachusetts. Yet, contrary to their progressive, worker-friendly image, Trader Joe’s has responded in Starbucks-like fashion, by aggressively cracking down on organizing and stonewalling in contract negotiations with the new union reps.
On March 1, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found Trader Joe’s had illegally suspended and fired a worker at a Houston store who raised concerns about workplace policies. The company was required to reinstate the worker and award back pay.
Let Trader Joe’s know you support the union -- and in keeping with their worker-friendly reputation, ask them to support it too, with good-faith negotiations!
Trader Joe’s employees have opened 56 unfair labor practice cases with the NLRB, most of which are in early stages. Some of these undecided cases include alleged retaliatory scheduling against employees for discussing working conditions or joining or supporting a union, and coercing employees through interrogation about their union activities.
According to long-time worker Dominique Bernardo, who led the unionization efforts at the Oakland store, Trader Joe’s has reduced worker benefits, missed raises, and cut hazard pay during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is concerned the changes in the company culture have changed from pro-worker, with good pay, benefits, and atmosphere, to a less worker-friendly culture with decreased worker satisfaction and higher turnover.
After more than 18 years working at Trader Joe’s, Dominique says that leading the union campaign was “the most meaningful and connective” experience she’s had at work in years.
Encourage Trader Joe’s to live up to their own stated core values, which they state are “caring for community,” “sustainability,” and their number one core value: “integrity,” creating “an environment that is safe, welcoming, inclusive, and respectful for all Crew Members and customers.”
Sign the petition now to urge Trader Joe’s to be true to their stated aspirations, to support workers’ rights to organize, and to stop retaliatory efforts against those who do.
Thank you for standing in solidarity with the union!
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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