UNFI not allowed to outsource trucker jobs in Florida, rules NLRB

United Natural Foods, Inc.’s plan to outsource trucker jobs to nonunion employer J.B. Hunt in Florida has been quashed by the National Labor Relations Board.

After hearing arguments from the Teamsters Local 79 in Tampa, Fla., the NLRB said UNFI did not provide pertinent evidence that the 80 truck drivers would be laid off.

“UNFI’s attempt to outsource jobs was nothing more than a desperate, union-busting tactic to stop drivers from becoming Teamsters,” said Tom Erickson, director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “UNFI continues to make bad decisions at the expense of its workers. This ruling reaffirms UNFI workers’ right to representation in the workplace without interference from management.”  

Workers will be able to vote to join a union on May 4 and May 5, and the NLRB said the votes must be counted immediately.

The NLRB is also investigating whether UNFI committed unfair labor practices when it subcontracted the driving jobs to J.B. Hunt.

UNFI did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication of this story.