Skip to main content
Business

This Bay Area Trader Joe’s Could Be the First in California to Unionize

Written by Sarah HoltzPublished Mar. 22, 2023 • 5:00pm
A Trader Joe's in San Ramon, California, in pictured. Workers at an Oakland location of the grocery store chain have filed to unionize. | Smith Collection/Gado/Getty

Workers at Trader Joe’s in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood filed to form a union on Wednesday. If the workers succeed in joining Trader Joe’s United, this location will be the first unionized Trader Joe’s in California.

Just after the announcement, Twitter user @renepakmorrison posted a video showing a group of Trader Joe’s crew members delivering a letter to the store manager.

This news comes hours after workers at Trader Joe’s on New York City’s Lower East Side filed a letter with their intent to form a union as well.

The grocery store’s leadership has recently come under fire for alleged union-busting activity after it closed a wine shop in New York City the same week that worker-organizers had planned to go public with their plans to unionize, though the corporation maintains it didn’t close the wine shop for that reason. 

Still, three other Trader Joe’s stores—in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Kentucky—won their union fights over the past year. 

"Trader Joe’s crew members get to decide if they want to be a part of this UFCW-backed effort," Nakia Rohde, a spokesperson for Trader Joe's, wrote in an email.

Questions, comments or concerns about this article may be sent to info@sfstandard.com


Celebrated San Francisco Bar Owner Eyes New Spot Near 24th Street BART Station

Celebrated San Francisco Bar Owner Eyes New Spot Near 24th Street BART Station


‘Awkward’ Robotaxi Problems in San Francisco Downplayed by Cruise CEO

‘Awkward’ Robotaxi Problems in San Francisco Downplayed by Cruise CEO


Game of Thrones Author, Other Writers Sue ChatGPT Parent Company

Game of Thrones Author, Other Writers Sue ChatGPT Parent Company


Shooting-Plagued San Francisco Night Club Gets Entertainment Permit Revoked

Shooting-Plagued San Francisco Night Club Gets Entertainment Permit Revoked


Artists To Enliven Grim Downtown San Francisco Building With ‘ART4U2’

Artists To Enliven Grim Downtown San Francisco Building With ‘ART4U2’