Tony's Fresh Market Workers Voting On Whether To Unionize This Week

CHICAGO — Employees of Tony’s Fresh Market will vote this week on whether to unionize.

More than 2,000 workers for the chain of 21 grocery stores across the Chicago area are voting Tuesday through Thursday to potentially join Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers, according to the union.

Tony’s leadership has denied workers bereavement leave, intimidated them, and shown favoritism when considering raises or terminations, according to the union, which said at least one employee was illegally fired after she started organizing with Local 881.

“The truth is that our demands are simple; we want health insurance, we want to have a voice in the workplace, we want a Union to fight for us and to defend us,” worker Araceli Bello said in a news release last week.

The union has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging Tony’s broke federal law, according to the Chicago Tribune, but the company denies the claims.

In an email to Patch, Tony's said no workers had been fired over unionization efforts and that the business complies with all applicable labor laws and regulations, adding employees were encouraged to make decisions "free from outside pressure."

“Tony’s Fresh Market values its team members and respects their right to consider union representation, and any claims suggesting otherwise are false," Tony's said in a prepared statement. "We take great pride in fostering a supportive environment where our team members can thrive, with competitive wages, strong benefits packages, and direct and open communication at the core of our efforts.”

The Tribune reported a nine-year Tony's worker assigned to the floral shop and register makes $18.70 per hour at the Prospect Heights store.

Benefits include health and retirement plans, and paid vacation, according to Tony's.

Chicago-area Tony's locations include Bolingbrook, Glendale Heights, Plainfield, Countryside, Joliet, Schaumburg, Niles and more.