The union win, at a Philadelphia store where workers are seeking higher wages, comes as Amazon is also fighting organizing efforts among some warehouse employees and delivery drivers.
Now, a battle lies ahead when working out the first contract between Whole Foods and the unionized workers. "This is going to be the longest uphill battle of our lives, but this is not just for us. This is for the people who come behind us and for the people who have been here," said Khy Adams, a Whole Foods employee.
Workers at Philadelphia's Center City Whole Foods store voted on Monday to unionize, becoming the first local store in the chain owned by Amazon to formally organize under the United Food and Commercial Workers.
Workers at a flagship Whole Foods Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania voted to unionize and become the first union in the grocery chain's history.
Workers voted 130-100 for union representation at the Center City in Philadelphia, according to the National Labor Relations Board.
Austin-based Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon, is the latest grocery chain to contend with unionization after workers in Philly voted in favor.
Whole Foods said it was "disappointed" by the vote but "committed to maintaining a positive working environment"
The vote marks the first successful organizing effort at Whole Foods since Amazon acquired the grocer for $13.7 billion in 2017.
It came down to 130 voting to join the United Food and Commercial Workers and 100 voted against. Union workers come from Kroger, Albertsons-Safeway, and others.