UNFI Reaches Labor Agreements in New York and Southern California
November 09 2020 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
Locals Representing Drivers in the Hudson
Valley and Front-Line Workers in Commerce, Stockton and Santa Fe
Springs Ratify Long-Term Contracts
New Contracts Include Language Updates that
Provide UNFI Important Operating Flexibility to Best Serve
Customers
Valued Associates are Receiving
Highly-Competitive Wages, Strong Benefits and Industry-Leading
Safety and Risk Management Support Amidst the COVID-19
Pandemic
United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) (“UNFI”), North
America's premier food wholesaler delivering the widest variety of
products to a diverse and expansive customer base, today announced
that it has reached new long-term labor agreements with drivers at
its Hudson Valley distribution center in Montgomery, New York and
front-line workers in California at its distribution centers in
Commerce, Stockton and Santa Fe Springs. UNFI associates in the
Hudson Valley are represented by Teamsters Local 445 and those in
Southern California are represented by Teamsters Locals 495, 630,
848 and 439.
The new contracts include compromises and language updates that
provide UNFI important operating flexibility to better serve its
customers while providing its valued associates highly competitive
wages, strong benefits and industry-leading safety and risk
management support amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eric Dorne, UNFI’s chief operating officer, commented:
“We’re pleased to fortify our distribution network and
strengthen the nation’s food supply chain ahead of the busy holiday
season and winter months. Our new long-term labor agreements in the
Hudson Valley and southern California put us on strong footing in
the near-term and provide us with valuable flexibility to best
serve our customers over the long-term. These are the foundational
elements of the exceptional customer service we intend to deliver
across the Pacific and Northeast regions in the years ahead. I also
want to take this opportunity to thank all of our associates,
partners and customers throughout the country for their
collaboration and confidence amidst the pandemic.”
Jill Sutton, UNFI’s chief legal officer and head of the labor
relations team, added:
“UNFI is focused on reaching equitable, modern labor agreements
that balance the best interests of all of our stakeholders. We’re
committed to obtaining fair terms that will help us remain
adaptable, nimble and well-positioned to serve our customers in the
highly-competitive and evolving food distribution environment. Our
new contracts with Teamsters locals in New York and California
include important language updates designed to enhance UNFI’s
long-term operational flexibility. We have now ratified
approximately 15 labor agreements over the past 24 months and look
forward to building on this momentum.“
Ms. Sutton concluded:
“These agreed-upon and fully-recommended contracts underscore
the strong support UNFI is providing to its more than 21,000
associates. In addition to delivering market-competitive
compensation, UNFI’s award-winning safety and risk management team
is continuing to prioritize associates’ health and wellbeing. We’ve
made the necessary investments at our 59 distribution centers to
provide industry-leading pandemic safety support, including
enhanced cleanings, hygiene supplies, temperature-checks, ample
protective gear and regulation-compliant and socially-distant
workplaces. These procedures and protocols have repeatedly received
high marks from our union associates and their leaders. UNFI will
continue to take these types of proactive steps and enhance our
protocols accordingly as CDC guidance evolves. We’ve complied with
all governmental guidance throughout the pandemic’s entire life
cycle and will remain vigilant to keep our associates safe as we
deliver on our promise of keeping the supply chain flowing.”
About United Natural Foods
UNFI is North America's premier food wholesaler delivering the
widest variety of products to customer locations throughout North
America including natural product superstores, independent
retailers, conventional supermarket chains, ecommerce retailers and
food service customers. By providing this deeper 'full-store'
selection and compelling brands for every aisle, UNFI is uniquely
positioned to deliver great food, more choices and fresh thinking
to customers everywhere. Today, UNFI is the largest publicly-traded
grocery distributor in America. To learn more about how UNFI is
Moving Food Forward, visit www.unfi.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201109005823/en/
Investor Contact Steve Bloomquist 952-828-4144
steve.j.bloomquist@unfi.com
Media Contact Jeff Swanson 952-903-1645
jeffrey.s.swanson@unfi.com and Greg Marose 201-936-4126
UNFI@profileadvisors.com
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