UNFI TEAMSTERS IN ATLANTA RATIFY FIRST CONTRACT

Five-Year Agreement Secures Major Wage Increases, Teamsters Health Care, and Western Conference Pension

ATLANTA, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters at United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) in Atlanta have unanimously ratified a strong first collective bargaining agreement that delivers significant gains for more than 225 warehouse workers. The five-year contract provides a 30 percent wage increase, Teamsters health care coverage, participation in the Western Conference Pension Plan, defined classification bidding, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday.

"This is an excellent contract that will have a lasting impact on our members and their families," said Matt Higdon, President of Teamsters Local 728. "We mirrored the best standards already won by other UNFI Teamsters, and we are proud to have secured such a strong agreement for our newest members at Local 728."

UNFI, the primary distributor for Amazon-owned Whole Foods, has become a major center for Teamsters organizing in recent years. In the past year alone, more than 1,250 UNFI drivers and warehouse workers have voted to join the union. Since 2022, more than 2,700 workers have organized, bringing total Teamsters representation at the company to over 5,000. Atlanta warehouse workers voted to unionize last year.

"Since we organized in October, we've been fighting for respect and a contract that meets the industry standard," said Fernando Woods, a worker at UNFI and Local 728 shop steward. "I've been with the company for 10 years, and it feels great to reap the benefits of having strong union representation. What used to be a job has turned into a career."

The Atlanta contract follows a wave of first agreements for newly organized UNFI workers nationwide. In August, more than 300 warehouse workers at UNFI in Sarasota, Fla., ratified a first contract that secured major wage increases, Teamsters health care, and Western Conference Pension benefits. The Atlanta agreement mirrors those victories and continues to raise standards across the company.

"We're building density and using our strength at UNFI to negotiate some of the best contracts in the grocery industry," said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. "Workers across this country can see that the Teamsters are delivering real gains in wages, benefits, and protections on the job."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:
Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279
[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters