A large majority of workers at Tony’s Fresh Market voted against unionizing last week, dealing a major blow to organizers and Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers, the union that sought to represent them.
Nearly 2,000 workers at 21 Tony’s stores in Chicago and the suburbs were eligible to vote Mar. 25-27. Out of 1,720 ballots counted, 605 voted for unionizing while 1,115 voted against, according to results filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
“In the weeks leading up to the election, Tony’s management engaged in an anti-union campaign of fear, lies and intimidation that unlawfully interfered with the workers’ rights to a fair election. As a result of Tony’s unlawful activities, a majority of the workers voted not to join Local 881,” the union said in a statement.
A spokesperson for Tony’s Fresh Market said in a statement that the vote “against union representation reflects the strong relationships we’ve built with our employees and our ongoing commitment to fostering a workplace where they can thrive – with competitive wages, strong benefits packages, professional growth opportunities and direct and open communication.”
Local 881 said it will file more unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board “to hold Tony’s and its Wall Street backers accountable for their unlawful interference in a free and fair election.”
Ahead of the elections, Local 881 cited anti-union tactics from management. Workers were “being pulled into one-on-one meetings, being questioned if they are working with the union and being unlawfully told not to vote in the upcoming election,” Local 881 said in a news release last week.
The union added that Tony’s spread a false rumor that it would request immigration status documents from workers.
In March, Local 881 filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board claiming retaliation and firings of Tony’s workers for their labor organizing.
Ofelia López-Salazar worked at Tony’s for five years and was most recently a clerk in the meat department at the Bridgeview store. But the mother of two was fired on Feb. 27; management did not give a reason. López-Salazar claimed she was terminated for her role as part of the workers’ organizing committee.
“No employees have been fired due to their unionization efforts,” a Tony’s spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
In 2022, New York private equity firm Apollo Global Management bought Tony’s, which was founded in Logan Square by two Italian immigrant brothers in 1979.
Tony’s operates under parent company Heritage Grocers Group.
Local 881 President Steven Powell said in a statement that while the election “results were not what hundreds of workers wanted, Local 881 will continue to help them fight for a fair and safe workplace and will stand with them for as long as it takes to win the dignity and justice they deserve.”
On behalf of Tony’s workers, Local 881 filed petitions for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board in February. Tony’s employees cited low wages, poor benefits including health insurance and mistreatment by management as reasons for organizing.
Local 881 represents 34,000 employees in retail, food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, including at Jewel-Osco, Kroger and Mariano’s.