Food Co-op Team Triumphs in Union Vote: A Community Victory for Workers’ Rights!

Recently, workers at Abundance Food Co-op in Rochester, New York, made headlines by voting to form a union with Workers United. Over 70% of employees signed cards to support the union early in the process, leading to an election just two weeks after they announced their plans to organize.

Will Westlake, an organizer with Workers United, described this rapid mobilization as the fastest he’s seen. It all started with a simple conversation during a bakery shift, which ignited the workers’ desire for a stronger voice in their workplace.

What makes this effort stand out is the surprising support from management. The General Manager and board President announced they would step down to pave the way for new leadership—an unusual move in labor movements. This openness from management has made Abundance a model for how co-ops can unite workers and leadership for a better working environment.

Abundance isn’t alone in this trend. It has become the third grocery co-op in Upstate New York to unionize, following the successful campaigns at Lexington Co-op in Buffalo and GreenStar in Ithaca. This growing movement reflects a shift towards more democratic workplaces that align with the cooperative values many of these stores were built upon.

While Lexington faced significant challenges in its union drive, Abundance has experienced a more collaborative journey. “This aligns with our values as a food cooperative,” said Vince Ularich, Abundance’s Interim General Manager. He emphasized that empowering workers can lead to better service for the community and a more robust collective workforce.

Molly Walter, Assistant Grocery Manager and a member of the organizing team, shared her excitement for building strong ties with local businesses and farms. “My goal is for us all to make the best cooperative decisions,” she said, highlighting the importance of creating a safe and supportive work environment.

The positive impact of unionization isn’t just theoretical. Westlake points to data showing that employee turnover at Lexington dropped from 60% to 40% after they established their union contract. This statistic underlines a crucial truth: when employees feel supported and engaged, both the store and the community thrive. “When staff thrives, the store thrives,” Walter noted, reinforcing the idea that a healthy workplace uplifts the entire community.

This movement for unionization in co-ops may not only change individual workplaces but could also contribute to a broader cultural shift in how we view cooperation, democracy, and community in the workplace.

For more information on workers’ rights and the ongoing union movement, visit the National Labor Relations Board.

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