Unionizing Trader Joe's Workers at Essex Crossing Store Face Immediate Union-Busting Efforts

Despite holding a public stance that Trader Joe’s will allow free and fair union elections at its stores, the employer rolled out anti-union tactics at the Essex Crossing location in New York City almost immediately after workers announced their intent to unionize last week.

Employees at the Essex Crossing location filed for a union election on March 22 2023. They seek to join Trader Joe’s United, the independent union of Trader Joe’s workers. If they win their vote, they will be the first unionized Trader Joe’s in the state, and the fourth to join Trader Joe’s United.

Since Essex workers announced their union drive, Trader Joe’s has held captive audience meetings containing anti-union messaging and crew members have been threatened with loss of compensation, among other things, should they unionize.

Trader Joe’s United filed several unfair labor practice charges in response to these actions.

“We are calling on Trader Joe’s to return to its purported number one core value, integrity, and stop engaging in union-busting immediately,” said Jordan Pollack, a crew member and organizer at the Essex store. “Crew members deserve a fair union election, and when our employer spreads threatening misinformation and engages in other unfair labor practices, that’s not fair, and it’s not integrity.”