Teamsters Urge UNFI Product Boycott

AUBURN, Wash. — Teamsters Local 117, which is striking a United Natural Foods warehouse here, has called for a consumer boycott of the distributor’s products at Whole Foods Market.

In a statement on a website called unfidrivenbygreed.com, the Teamsters local posted a list of brands and products “to avoid” that are supplied to Whole Foods by UNFI.

The Teamsters staged a brief strike at the facility in early December, then called it off, and then re-instated the strike the next day when it said 72 of the striking workers were terminated by UNFI. The union is accusing UNFI of unfair bargaining practices and several violations of labor laws.

Read more: Teamsters Back on Strike at UNFI Depot

Separately, PCC Natural Markets, based in Seattle, encouraged UNFI to reach an agreement with the Teamsters and said it had begun “exploring other long-term options” for sourcing product.

“As a cooperative with longstanding values respecting both our own workforce and those of our many partners, PCC strongly supports the right to freely engage in collective bargaining, the right to equitable pay, fair benefits and safe working conditions,” the nine-store co-op said in a statement.

UNFI supplies most of PCC’s grocery and dairy product and a “substantial amount” of its body care and wellness items, the chain said.