Groundbreaking Vote: Center City Whole Foods Workers Push to Become the First Unionized Location in the U.S.

Changes at Whole Foods After Amazon’s Takeover

Whole Foods Market used to be a publicly traded company with various employee benefits. Workers highlighted differences in their policies during recent union campaigns.

Before the acquisition, employees enjoyed perks like gainsharing, where teams that stayed under budget received bonuses. They also had stock options, holiday bonuses, and healthcare options for part-time workers.

These benefits were available when John Mackey, one of the co-founders, was still the CEO.
In 2017, Amazon purchased Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion, making it a private company.

Following the acquisition, significant changes occurred. Workers reported that the old attendance policy was replaced with a new unpaid time-off policy. Critics argue this new policy could lead to wage theft. Employees also expressed concerns about communication within the company.

Amazon does provide restricted stock units for certain eligible employees, including some team leaders. However, there are limits on who qualifies for these benefits.

Whole Foods Market chose not to participate in an interview but provided a statement. The company emphasized its commitment to listening to employees, ensuring fair treatment, and offering opportunities for growth and competitive compensation.

Whole Foods also mentioned that while they respect employees’ rights to consider union representation, they believe a union is unnecessary. They highlighted their open-door policy, which they claim allows for quick responses to workforce needs.

At the Center City store, both full-time and part-time employees can vote on union representation. However, this vote does not include higher-level management roles.