UNFI Workers Fight for a Fair Contract.

On June 3, United Natural Foods, Inc (UNFI), the premiere natural foods distributor in the country, reported its third quarter earnings, and the numbers don’t lie:  The company saw hefty double-digit profits, with net sales up 30%.

Steven Spinner, CEO of UNFI, said: “Our record earnings in the third quarter reflect our continued focus on cash flow, market share and the further expansion and integration of our specialty business.”

But despite record earnings and executive pay with bonuses exceeding $1 million annually, the company continues to refuse to provide a fair compensation package for its employees and a benefits package that would put Teamsters at UNFI on a path toward a secure retirement.

On June 8 and 9, 2009, the Teamsters Local 117 Bargaining Committee met with company representatives and a  federal mediator in an attempt to push UNFI to close the wage and benefit disparity that exists between its workers and workers at other comparable grocery warehouses in our region.  Rather than address the disparity, the company instead used the economic crisis for cover in what can only be characterized as corporate greed.

“With the kinds of profits UNFI is making, the company’s position with respect to its workers on issues of economics and job security is shameful,” said Tracey Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117 and the Union’s lead negotiator.

Teamsters at UNFI will continue to pressure the company until it provides its workers with job security provisions and a fair compensation and benefits package that is more in line with industry standards.

To view a flyer from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on corporate greed in the partnership between UNFI and Whole Foods, click here.