Workers employed at Abundance Food Co-op in Rochester recently voted to form a Union with Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Abundance is the third Grocery Co-Op in Upstate New York to organize in recent years. “(It’s) the fastest (organizing) I’ve ever encountered,” Will Westlake, an organizer with Workers United, tells Food Tank. More than 70% of the Workers signed Union Authorization Cards early in the process. The election was held two weeks the Workers first announced their intention to organize. The campaign featured a surprisingly supportive response from management, including an announcement from the General Manager and President of the Board that they would be stepping down to make space for new leadership and direction. “My goal is for us all to make the best cooperative decisions to have a safe space for us to thrive,” said Molly Walter, Assistant Grocery Manager at Abundance and Organizing Committee Member. “I am so excited to build more strong, lasting relationships with local businesses, farms and other cooperatives.”

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Co-op Values in Action: Abundance Staff Win Union Vote