Des Plaines, IL – Grocery workers at 21 Tony’s Fresh Markets voted this week in one of the largest union elections in the Chicago area in many years. The workers voted whether to join Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the Union for Jewel and Mariano’s grocery workers and thousands of others throughout Illinois.

In the weeks leading up to the election, Tony’s management engaged in an anti-union campaign of fear, lies and intimidation that unlawfully interfered with the workers’ rights to a fair election. As a result of Tony’s unlawful activities, a majority of the workers voted not to join Local 881.

Local 881 President Steven Powell reacted to the election result:

“While today’s results were not what hundreds of workers wanted, Local 881 will continue to help them fight for a fair and safe workplace and will stand with them for as long as it takes to win the dignity and justice they deserve.”

Among other actions, Local 881 will file and process unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board to hold Tony’s and its Wall Street backers accountable for their unlawful interference in a free and fair election.