For Immediate Release: 

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

Contact:

Kayla Blado, kayla.blado@hailstonecommunications.com 

Nicole Young, Nicoleyoung@ufcw1776.org

On First Anniversary of Historic Philly Whole Foods Union Election, Amazon Whole Foods’ Expansion Announcement Snubs Workers

Philly Whole Foods workers voted for union one-year ago today, and Amazon Whole Foods is still silencing their voice

Philadelphia, PA— Today, on the first anniversary of the Philadelphia Whole Foods workers’ historic union election, Amazon released plans to open over 100 Whole Foods stores in the next few years and convert Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores into Whole Foods stores. 

According to the blog post, Amazon is one of the top three grocers in the U.S., with over $150 billion in gross sales and more than 150 million customers shopping groceries each year. Additionally, since Amazon’s 2017 acquisition of Whole Foods, sales have increased 40% and they’ve expanded to over 550 locations nationally. 

Yet, with all of this financial success, Amazon Whole Foods continues to squeeze their employees. Whole Foods workers provide essential grocery services to our communities, but many Whole Foods workers struggle to afford groceries and healthcare for themselves and their families. The workers at Philadelphia’s Center City store voted for union one year ago on January 27, 2025, to have a voice to solve these problems, improve their working conditions, and ensure a respectful workplace. Since then, Amazon-owned Whole Foods has delayed bargaining, sought to overturn the election outcome, violated federal labor law and has illegally retaliated against workers. 

"Before our election, Amazon Whole Foods said they would work with the will of their employees. But a year after our vote to unionize, they’ve made every effort to avoid sitting down with us to negotiate a contract. Their efforts have instead been directed to asking the NLRB to overturn our election results,” said Jasmine Jones, a Philadelphia Whole Foods worker and member of Whole Foods Workers United. “Amazon Whole Foods, a trillion dollar entity, treats us like robots to be exploited and squeezed for maximum profits. They are making billions of dollars off of our labor and we deserve better pay and benefits.”

“One year ago, Philly Whole Foods workers voted for the first-ever Amazon Whole Foods union. While workers are struggling, Amazon Whole Foods continues to make record profits—and Amazon Executive Chair Jeff Bezos is now worth $255 billion,” said Wendell Young IV, President of UFCW Local 1776. “Do consumers want to spend their hard-earned money enriching someone who doesn’t respect his employees?”

Background: On January 27, 2025, a majority of Philadelphia’s Center City Whole Foods workers voted for unionrepresentation by UFCW Local 1776 in an NLRB election, forming the country’s first-ever Amazon Whole Foods union. In response to this historic victory, Amazon Whole Foods has asked the NLRB to overturn the election and has refused to bargain with the union. During this period, Whole Foods has also illegally retaliated against union members, including reducing hours and firing several workers. UFCW Local 1776 has filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB that are currently being investigated. The corporation is also using pressure tactics to try to stop workers at other Philadelphia Whole Foods stores from unionizing.

On January 7, 2026, two new Republican Board members were sworn in at the NLRB, after President Trump fired Democratic Member Gwynne Wilcox on January 28, 2025, leaving the Board without a quorum for almost a full year. Now, with two Republicans and one Democratic member, the Board will decide whether or not to uphold the Whole Foods election results.

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UFCW Local 1776 Keystone State represents over 35,000 workers who work throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, Ohio, and New Jersey. Their members provide essential services in grocery stores, drugstores, food processing plants, government services, manufacturing facilities, nursing homes, professional offices, Pennsylvania’s Wine and Spirits Shops, and medical cannabis facilities. They fight for higher pay, groundbreaking benefits, and dignity on the job for all working people.