NEW YORK, NY – According to a recent article in the WALL Street Journal, workers at Whole Foods Market
in several locations are considering joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
The Whole Foods Market operation consists of 490 stores. With Amazon taking over ownership, there is general concern from employees throughout the network that Amazon will cut benefits and consolidate operations. Since Amazon has a reputation as an unfriendly employer – workers are considering organizing in many stores.
While amazon is now valued at $1 trillion, the retailer is facing serious complaints from employees in stores across the nation. Reports about the company describe deplorable working conditions and low pay at Amazon’s warehouses in the United States and across the world. Sen. Bernie Sanders has repeatedly attacked Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for paying warehouse employees wages so low that taxpayers end up paying welfare benefits for employees. Amazon workers in Europe are regularly clashing with the company over working conditions.
RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum told the Wall Street Journal that RWDSU “will not back down until Amazon workers are treated with dignity and respect.”
