Lifestyle
Philly Whole Foods store becomes first to unionize – a labor expert explains what’s next and how Trump could stall workers’ efforts
Whole Foods workers at the Philadelphia flagship store in the city’s Art Museum area voted to unionize on Jan. 27, 2025. They are the first store in the Amazon-owned grocery chain to do so.
Paul Clark, a professor of labor and employment relations at Penn State University, talked to Kate Kilpatrick, The Conversation U.S. Philadelphia editor, about why this is happening – and why in Philly.
The Whole Foods workers in Philadelphia voted 130-100 in favor of unionizing. What do we know about their grievances?
From what I understand, these workers have felt that compensation, benefits and work conditions were not what they should be. Some are long-standing employees and say they struggle to afford their basic necessities.
Why did the union drive effort succeed now, and in Philly?
In the last five years, there has been a surge in union organizing. There are a number of reasons for this. First is the labor market. Low unemployment emboldens workers to take the risk of organizing a union. If workers feel their employer can’t replace them or that they can easily get a similar job, they are less fearful of angering the employer by trying to organize.
The second reason is that the Biden administration was a labor-friendly administration – perhaps the most in history. The U.S. president appoints a majority of members to the National Labor Relations Board, which interprets and enforces the labor law that governs organizing. Under Biden, the NLRB regularly issued decisions that provided greater protection to workers and held employers accountable when they violated workers’ rights. During Republican administrations, the board’s decisions are generally pro-business and provide less protection to workers. So workers had the wind at their back in that regard.
Also recent polling shows that 70% of Americans approve of unions, compared with less than half of Americans just 15 years ago. The generally favorable view of unions creates a more supportive environment for organizing.
And the last factor is that Generation Z, the youngest group of workers, clearly wants more out of their work and employment than previous generations. So we see a lot of young workers across the country organizing at Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, Apple and now at Whole Foods and other stores.
Why Philadelphia? Philadelphia is a relatively strong union town. The percentage of the workforce that is represented by a union is higher in Philadelphia than in most cities and areas of the country. So when workers express interest in organizing in Philadelphia they get a lot of support. Other unions might turn out members for their rallies, pressure the company to not oppose the organizing drive and offer other aid and assistance.
The starting wage at the Philadelphia Whole Foods store is US$16 an hour. Is that considered low when the city’s minimum wage is just $7.25 an hour?
The minimum wage in Philadelphia is $7.25 because that is the federal minimum wage. States can institute a higher minimum wage if they choose to, but Pennsylvania is one of the few Northeast states that hasn’t adopted a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum. The minimum wages in New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, for example, are $15 or above.
But the minimum wage in Pennsylvania is almost irrelevant because of today’s labor market. Unemployment is low, and many employers have to offer significantly more than the minimum wage to get workers.
And the minimum wage is supposed to be a starting wage for workers with little experience or seniority. What workers want is a living wage. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, a single person in Philadelphia needs to earn around $24 per hour to cover the basic costs of living. And Whole Foods is a profitable business. It’s part of Amazon, one of the most profitable, largest companies in the world. I think workers at these companies believe that they play an important role in generating those profits because of the work they do. And they think they should get a fair share of those profits.
How might the Whole Foods workers expect the company to fight back?
When employees win an organizing election as the Whole Food workers have, they have won a battle but not the war. The purpose of forming a union is to improve wages and benefits and working conditions, and you do that by negotiating a contract with the company. That is the next step in the process. But the law only requires employers to bargain with employees – to meet at reasonable times and exchange proposals. It doesn’t compel them to agree to anything.
The typical strategy of companies that aggressively oppose their workers having a union is to drag their feet in bargaining and not sign a contract. That is technically illegal, but labor law in the U.S. is relatively weak, and with good legal advice you can drag out bargaining for a very long time.
We’ve seen this with the Starbucks campaign. The first Starbucks store unionized in 2021. Over 540 stores have organized since then. And Starbucks workers at those stores still do not have a contract.
Could the new Trump administration have any impact on how this plays out in Philly?
The fact that the Trump administration has taken over gives companies more confidence that the standard delay strategy will work.
On Jan. 28, 2025, President Donald Trump fired Jennifer Abruzzo, the general counsel of the NLRB. The general counsel is the official at the board who basically enforces the National Labor Relations Act. Abruzzo was very aggressive in holding employers accountable if they violated the act and in protecting the rights of workers who tried to organize.
Trump’s approach to labor law in his first four years in office was at the other extreme. He appointed as general counsel Peter Robb, who was seen as far less aggressive in protecting workers’ rights and his interpretations of the law were much more pro-business.
Under the Biden administration, if a company was coming to the bargaining table month after month and not agreeing to anything, the NLRB would eventually step in and cite the employer for not bargaining in good faith. The NLRB could find the employer guilty of unfair labor practices and genuinely put pressure on it to bargain a contract.
Based on the board’s actions during the first Trump administration, the board in the next few years will be more likely to allow companies to delay and delay in reaching a contract.
What leverage do the Whole Foods employees have?
They can go on strike. But Amazon has the resources to put up with a strike at one Whole Foods store forever.
Other Whole Foods stores may be considering union drives. The more stores that organize, the more momentum the Philadelphia store will have. But for now, these workers in Philly are going to have their work cut out for them.
That said, they won’t be alone. The Whole Foods workers organized with the UFCW Local 1776, which is basically a statewide union that’s been around for decades. It has a lot of resources and experienced and knowledgeable leaders, plus the resources of the national UFCW. So it’s going to lean into this fight, and these workers will also have a lot of support from the rest of the labor community in Philadelphia.
Earlier this month, three Congressional representatives from Pennsylvania wrote a letter to Jason Buechel, the Whole Foods CEO, and to Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, that expressed their concerns about efforts to suppress the union drive. Is that support typical?
It’s not unusual. But there is no legal basis for elected officials to intervene in a labor-management dispute. I’d put that under the heading of community support.
You have a lot of progressive elected officials in Philadelphia who are supportive of unions, and that’s true in Pennsylvania right up to the governor.
Paul F. Clark, Professor of Labor and Employment Relations, Penn State
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
recipes
Keeping the Love of Food with Type 2 Diabetes
Living with Type 2 diabetes often means making adjustments to your daily routine, especially when it comes to food. Although adjusting to life with diabetes may take time, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods and flavors. In fact, it can be an opportunity to discover meals that support your health goals while still enjoying the foods you love.
(Feature Impact) Living with Type 2 diabetes often means making adjustments to your daily routine, especially when it comes to food. Whether you’re living with the condition or supporting someone who is, it can influence everything from meal planning to dinners out and everyday activities. Although adjusting to life with diabetes may take time, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods and flavors. In fact, it can be an opportunity to discover meals that support your health goals while still enjoying the foods you love.
That’s what professional chef and TV show host Kardea Brown did, alongside her husband Bryon Smith, who was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 38.
“When my husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, it didn’t mean the end of the foods we love,” Brown said. “It meant I had to get creative. I started reimagining my recipes, so they still carry that same soul, that same comfort, just with ingredients that love him back a little better.”
To remove the guesswork about how certain ingredients affect Smith’s glucose levels, the couple relies on Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor with Libre Assist*, a feature within the accompanying Libre app**. The technology provides real-time glucose insights and can help predict how certain foods may affect his glucose^ levels before a meal.
“I open the Libre Assist feature in the app, snap a photo and instantly see how that food might affect me before I even take the first bite,” Smith said. “It even suggests healthier swaps to help lower the impact.”
Small lifestyle changes can also make a difference in diabetes management. Brown recommends:
- Building balanced meals that prioritize non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins and healthy carbs for added fiber.
- Reading labels carefully to ensure you choose ingredients with little or no added sugars.
- Boosting fiber intake with ingredients like lentils, oats, beans and whole fruits.
- Cooking smarter at home by using simple methods like grilling, baking or sauteing with healthy fats, such as olive or canola oil.
- Planning and preparing for success by shopping with a list and planning meals in advance so you always have nutritious ingredients ready to cook.
To learn more about Libre Assist and to see if you qualify for a free† sensor, visit freestylelibre.us/LibreAssist.
The views expressed in this article should not be used for medical diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual symptoms, situations and circumstances may vary.
* Libre Assist is a feature within Libre app that uses generative artificial intelligence to provide information on how foods could impact your glucose levels. Generative artificial intelligence may not always be accurate, and it should not be used to make treatment decisions.
** The FreeStyle Libre systems apps are only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check the Support section of our website for more information about device compatibility before using the apps. Use of the FreeStyle Libre systems apps may require registration with LibreView.
^Predicted glucose impact is based on user-provided food data and may differ from actual impact, which depends on sensor readings and factors like activity, stress, medication and alcohol. For personalized advice, consult your healthcare provider.
†Offer available for people who qualify. Visit MyFreeStyle.us to see all Terms and Conditions. Certain exclusions apply. Medicare and Medicaid patients are not eligible. See MyFreeStyle.us for more information.
Important Safety Information: Product for prescription only, for Important Safety Information visit FreeStyleLibre.us.
Shrimp Scampi and Cauliflower Grits
Recipe courtesy of Kardea Brown on behalf of Abbott
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Grits:
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup light cream
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 1 cup cauliflower rice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Shrimp Scampi:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons dry white wine
- 1 lemon, juice only
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- To make grits: Bring broth and cream to gentle boil; whisk in grits. Cook 10-15 minutes. Stir in cauliflower rice and cook 5-7 minutes. Add butter, cheese, salt and pepper.
- To make shrimp scampi: In pan, heat butter and oil; saute garlic and red pepper flakes, if desired, 30 seconds. Add shrimp, cook 1-2 minutes per side and remove.
- Add broth, wine, lemon juice and lemon zest; simmer 2-3 minutes. Return shrimp; toss; season with salt and pepper, to taste; and stir in parsley.
- Serve shrimp over creamy grits.
Macaroni and Cheese with Chickpea Pasta
Recipe courtesy of Kardea Brown on behalf of Abbott
Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6
Pasta:
- 8 ounces chickpea-based, gluten-free pasta
Bechamel Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons almond flour
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Cheese Blend:
- 1 cup medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Topping:
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar and Gruyere cheese
- 2 tablespoons almond flour (optional)
- chopped parsley
- Preheat oven to 375 F and grease baking dish.
- To make pasta: Cook pasta al dente.
- To make bechamel sauce: Melt butter and whisk in almond flour, 1-2 minutes. Slowly add half-and-half, heavy cream and broth. Stir until thickened. Season with mustard, garlic powder, smoked paprika and salt and pepper, to taste. Remove from heat.
- To make cheese blend: Mix cheddar, gruyere and Parmesan. Stir half the cheese blend into bechamel sauce until smooth. Stir in pasta.
- Layer pasta and cheese sauce in dish: half pasta, half cheese and repeat. Top with reserved cheese and almond flour, if desired.
- Cover with foil and bake 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10-15 minutes uncovered until golden.
- Rest 5 minutes, garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Red Velvet Layer Cake with Almond Flour
Recipe courtesy of Kardea Brown on behalf of Abbott
Prep time: 25 minutes
Bake time: 20 minutes
Chill time: 30-60 minutes
Servings: 12
Cake:
- 2 cups almond flour
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups monk fruit-allulose blend
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup avocado oil
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- red food coloring (optional)
Whipped Cream:
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup powdered monk fruit
- 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
Berry Drizzle:
- 1/2 cup no-sugar-added wild berry jam
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
Filling and Topping:
- 2 cups mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Preheat oven to 350 F and grease or line three 8-inch pans.
- To make cake: In bowl, mix almond flour, pastry flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt and monk fruit-allulose blend. In separate bowl, mix eggs, Greek yogurt, avocado oil, buttermilk, distilled vinegar, vanilla extract and red food coloring, if desired. Combine dry and wet ingredients until smooth. Divide evenly into pans and bake 18-22 minutes. Cool completely.
- To make whipped cream: Whip cream cheese and monk sugar until smooth. Add cream gradually and whip to medium-stiff peaks. Chill.
- To make berry drizzle: Warm berry jam with water and lemon juice, if desired, until pourable; cool slightly.
- To assemble cake: Layer cake, whipped cream, jam and berries; repeat for three layers. Top with berries and drizzle.
- Chill 30-60 minutes before slicing.
Photo courtesy of Abbott (Bryon Smith and Kardea Brown, a paid partner)
SOURCE:
Abbott
Health
When Vision Changes: 5 Ways to Navigate What Comes Next
Whether sight changes suddenly or gradually, a question often follows: “Now what?” There is no single way to adjust to vision loss, and the questions can change over time. These five starting points can help you identify what matters most now and where to find support.
(Feature Impact) A change in vision can turn ordinary routines into unfamiliar challenges. A favorite book becomes harder to read. Walking through a familiar neighborhood feels different. A family member offers help, but you may not know how to ask for what you need. Whether sight changes suddenly or gradually, a question often follows: “Now what?”
Medical care is essential, but many people encounter a Grand Canyon-sized gap between clinical care and everyday life with vision loss. Questions arise around getting around safely, continuing to do things you love, talking to family about what is changing and more. The answers take more than information; they require practical guidance, emotional support and connection with people who understand.
“The medical conversation rarely has room for what people are actually grappling with: fear, grief and the very practical question of how to keep living the lives they want,” said Johnjoe Farragher, CEO of Hadley, a nonprofit dedicated to helping adults with vision loss. “Those ‘now what?’ moments are where people need a clear place to begin.”
There is no single way to adjust to vision loss, and the questions can change over time. These five starting points can help you identify what matters most now and where to find support.
Take One Step at a Time
You don’t have to solve every challenge at once. Ask your vision care team about your diagnosis and treatment then think about what is most difficult in daily life right now. It could be reading email, moving safely through your home or using your phone. Choose one concern to address first. A small, useful change can make the next step feel more manageable.
Make Room for the Emotional Side
Vision loss may bring grief, frustration, fear or a change in how you see yourself. Those feelings don’t have to be brushed aside before you can move forward. Share those feelings with someone you trust and seek professional support if you need it. Hearing how others navigated similar changes can help you feel less alone and identify possibilities you may not have imagined.
Find a Trusted Place to Begin
Ask your vision care team about support available in your community. If you’re unsure what to ask for, start with a specific daily challenge on your mind. Offering on-demand guidance, practical tools and opportunities to connect with others living with vision loss, Hadley focuses on life with vision loss beyond the doctor’s office. Its expert-informed guidance and community members address both practical problems and the emotions that come with them, shaped by lived experience. Support is available without cost or waitlists, whether you’re living with vision loss or helping someone you love.
Define Independence on Your Terms
Independence doesn’t have to mean doing everything alone. It may mean finding a new way to do something, choosing a tool that helps or telling family and friends exactly what assistance is useful. Think about a goal that matters to you, whether it’s getting around your home with more confidence or staying involved in a favorite activity, and build from there.
Keep Doing What Matters to You
A change in sight can change how you do things without ending your connection to the people and activities you love. The right adaptations depend on your vision, your interests and your goals.
For instance, when reading gets hard, magnifiers, enlarging fonts, access to free audiobooks and learning braille can make a difference. Passionate home chefs may use tactile or high-contrast labels, well-placed lighting, consistent organization or adaptive tools and techniques to keep cooking with confidence. Assistive technology, low-vision tools and simple adaptations can make everyday routines more accessible and help people stay connected to the activities and relationships that matter most.
When a new “now what?” question comes up, HadleyHelps.org offers a trusted place to start and a path forward.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
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home gardening
Cold-Season Container Gardening 101: Adding Color to Fall and Winter
With container gardening, you can create everything from cheerful porch flower displays to miniature winter herb gardens with the flexibility to rearrange your setup as needed. Consider these tips to create a cold-season container garden that’s ready to thrive.
(Feature Impact) Although gardening is typically considered more of a spring or summer activity, fall and winter are excellent opportunities to add some color and freshness to your outdoor spaces. With container gardening, you can create everything from cheerful porch flower displays to miniature winter herb gardens with the flexibility to rearrange your setup as needed.
Consider these tips to create a cold-season container garden that’s ready to thrive.
Choose Hardy Plants and Flowers
Work with the cold, not against it, by looking for fall and winter plants suited to your local climate and hardiness zone. Cold-season flowers like pansies, violets and chrysanthemums can survive light frosts and give you cheerful pops of color to enjoy. Fill out the design by adding ornamental grasses or trailing evergreen foliage like ivy. If you’re hoping to grow vegetables and herbs during the fall and winter, choose tolerant varieties like kale, spinach, chives, rosemary, parsley or thyme.
Get the Right Kinds of Containers
Almost as important as the plants themselves are the pots you decide to plant them in. Look for containers large enough to accommodate growing plants, but small enough that you can move them if necessary. Proper drainage is another important factor, since soil that stays too wet during cold weather can freeze and thaw, which may damage the roots or pots. Choose sturdy materials that can stand up to changing temperatures, like thick plastic, resin or metal, and avoid more fragile materials like terracotta and ceramic.
Consider Location
Placement can determine whether your container garden thrives or struggles. When you’re deciding where to keep your containers, think about sunlight, wind protection and ease of access for watering and maintenance. A spot near a south- or west-facing wall may help keep the soil warmer and the plant more sheltered from gusty autumn and winter days.
Don’t Overwater
If you usually garden during warmer months, you might be accustomed to watering your plants frequently. However, plants generally use less water when temperatures are cool, so if you stick to a summer schedule you could wind up drowning them instead of nurturing them. Water your containers when the soil is dry enough to need it, preferably when temperatures are above freezing so it doesn’t turn to ice around the roots.
Protect Plants from Extreme Weather
A light layer of snow usually isn’t a death sentence, but even cold-resistant plants are bound to struggle during a howling blizzard or a deep freeze. Depending on what kinds of plants and containers you have, follow professional recommendations to move containers into sheltered locations or wrap the pots with insulating materials to keep the roots warmer.
Find more seasonal home and garden tips at eLivingtoday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
SOURCE:
elivingtoday.com
