The Sun Sentinel in South Florida reports that almost 1,000 employees at a Publix distribution center in Deerfield Beach are voting this week on whether to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW).
It is the second UFCW attempt to unionize at the state's largest private employer. The first, a year ago, failed by a 2-1 margin.
This current vote is being overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, in part because of a long history of bitterness between the union, which believes that Publix intimidates its workers, and the company, which accuses the UFCW of helping to initiate a number of class action suits against the chain.
Publix officials don’t seem worried about the current vote. "Never in our history has it been necessary for our associates to pay union dues in order to enjoy good working benefits," Publix spokesman Lee Brunson told the Sun Sentinel, which notes that Fortune magazine has for six years listed Publix as one of the top 100 places in the country to work.
The election results will not be made public because of a likely appeal, according to the paper.
It is the second UFCW attempt to unionize at the state's largest private employer. The first, a year ago, failed by a 2-1 margin.
This current vote is being overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, in part because of a long history of bitterness between the union, which believes that Publix intimidates its workers, and the company, which accuses the UFCW of helping to initiate a number of class action suits against the chain.
Publix officials don’t seem worried about the current vote. "Never in our history has it been necessary for our associates to pay union dues in order to enjoy good working benefits," Publix spokesman Lee Brunson told the Sun Sentinel, which notes that Fortune magazine has for six years listed Publix as one of the top 100 places in the country to work.
The election results will not be made public because of a likely appeal, according to the paper.
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