WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.2 million essential workers in grocery, meatpacking, retail, and other essential industries across North America, released the following statement regarding Trader Joe’s decision to open a new “grab and go” Pronto store in place of the shuttered Union Square wine shop.
In 2022, Trader Joe’s workers filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge against the company after it abruptly closed its only wine shop in New York, alleging the closure was an act of retaliation against workers trying to unionize. The workers also allege that they were illegally interrogated and subjected to coercive statements by management. This past January, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint against Trader Joe’s and a notice of hearing, demanding Trader Joe’s to re-open the wine shop and reimburse workers for lost wages.
NYC Trader Joe’s Wine Shop Organizing Committee released the following statement:
“Trader Joe’s decision to open a new store in place of its former wine shop, after displacing its former staff without warning, is a giant slap in the face. We are disappointed, but not surprised, to learn that the space has been filled before reopening our shop. While management claims to be searching for a new location to move its successful wine store, they’ve been content to let its former location lay empty for almost 2 years as an alleged cost-saving measure.
“We believe Trader Joe’s is doing everything in its power to prevent a profitable unionized shop from reopening. We refuse to let Trader Joe’s continue to get away with their egregious and illegal union-busting tactics.”
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The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.2 million workers and their families in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, healthcare, cannabis, retail, and other essential industries. UFCW members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.