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Group of Imperfect Foods Drivers Vote to Unionize

 

Late last week, it was announced that a group of drivers in Northern California for Imperfect Foods had voted to unionize with the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union set to represent the approximate 80 employees.

On the heels of unionization efforts at Amazon falling short earlier this month, the unionization of these employees at Imperfect Foods is likely a welcomed relief for labor organizers.  With that being said, the vote was rather close with 28 employees voting in favor of unionization and 23 against.  However, leading up to the vote, Imperfect Foods had announced it would respect the outcome.  At this point, it appears there will not be a challenge to the outcome, irrespective of the fact that a challenge to the close results could impact the outcome.

Leading up to the vote, Imperfect Foods mounted its opposition to the possible unionization by holding meetings with employees and telling them that if they were to unionize, they could be replaced with outside contractors.  (Imperfect Foods classifies its drivers as employees rather than independent contractors.  As a result, these drivers were eligible to organize.  Had they been classified as independent contractors, organizing would not have been an option, per federal law.)


For additional information:  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-16/drivers-at-grocery-startup-imperfect-foods-vote-to-unionize

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