After a two-year legal fight that turned one ballot into a nail-biter, workers at the Trader Joe’s on Lincoln Avenue in North Center have finally secured union recognition. The crew at 3745 N. Lincoln Ave. will join Trader Joe’s United following a National Labor Relations Board ruling that resolved a previously tied election in the union’s favor. The decision makes the Lincoln Avenue store the first Trader Joe’s in Illinois to win formal union representation.
NLRB Confirms Result
In a decision issued June 29, the National Labor Relations Board denied Trader Joe’s request for review and upheld the regional director’s order to open a contested ballot, finalizing the outcome, according to the National Labor Relations Board. The agency’s public docket shows the April 2024 tally initially came in at 70 to 70 with one challenged ballot. Opening that ballot produced a one-vote union majority and closed the book on a multi-stage challenge that had kept the result in limbo for more than two years.
How The Tally Flipped
When election officials finally opened the challenged ballot, it turned out to be a vote for the union, pushing the tally to 71 to 70 and clearing the way for certification, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Trader Joe’s United National President Roberts Hönisch told the paper the result shows “how grit and constant fighting can lead to these results.” The Sun-Times also reports that the Lincoln Avenue crew will number roughly 140 members and that the company did not respond to a request for comment.
Part Of A National Organizing Wave
Trader Joe’s United formed in 2022 and has since helped workers at other stores organize. The union lists earlier wins in Hadley, Minneapolis, Louisville and Oakland on its website, per Trader Joe’s United. With the Lincoln Avenue store coming on board, the Chicago location becomes the group’s fifth certified store nationwide. Organizers say the victory is one more sign of growing union momentum across the grocery and retail sectors.
Why The Board Rejected The Company’s Objections
An analysis of the unpublished decision explains that the Board assumed, for argument’s sake, that an organizer was acting as a union agent but concluded his conduct did not warrant overturning the election. It upheld the regional director’s ruling to open the contested ballot, according to NLRB Edge. The commentary also notes a concurrence that criticized some aspects of the regional handling yet agreed that the overall result was not prejudiced. Those findings effectively closed the procedural chapter that had stalled the outcome.
What’s Next For Workers And Shoppers
With union recognition now official, the Lincoln Avenue crew will turn to collective bargaining while Trader Joe’s United continues its push for a first national contract and local agreements, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Organizers say day-to-day service at the store should stay steady while members hammer out bargaining priorities and deepen outreach. For many workers, the Board’s decision closes one chapter of organizing and opens another in the form of contract talks.
