Trader Joe’s union asks court to dismiss lawsuit over logo use

A Trader Joe’s union said it wants a Los Angeles federal court to toss out a lawsuit accusing the group of using the Trader Joe’s logo to sell union merchandise, reports Reuters.

The request was made earlier this week by Trader Joe’s United, which believes the intent behind the lawsuit is to discourage employees from unionizing.

In the suit, Trader Joe’s said it believes the use of its logo on union-related merch like buttons, tote bags, mugs, and other products is confusing to shoppers. Trader Joe’s  is seeking financial compensation and wants the use of the logo to stop, although it is not calling for a halt in the selling of merchandise.

Attorney Seth Goldstein, representing the union, accused Trader Joe’s of “spending millions of dollars to try to weaponize the legal process” and break up the union.

Trader Joe’s United said the use of the logo does not create any confusion and is necessary to identify the employer.

Trader Joe’s has  dealt with repeat union issues this year. In a complaint filed to the National Labor Relations Board, management at a Trader Joe’s store in Minneapolis, Minn., was accused of illegally pulling union literature from a break room and did not allow workers to post fliers about organizing a union.

The National Labor Relations Board found those issues to be justified. In that case,the board additionally said the retailer was “interfering with, restraining, and coercing” employees who were attempting to unionize.

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Employees have voted to unionize at Trader Joe’s in Oakland, Calif., and additional unions have formed at locations in Hadley, Mass., Minneapolis, and Louisville.