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Trader Joe's employees working at the Chicago North Center location are seeking union representation, and have filed for a union election. If the store is successful, it will be the first unionized Trader Joe’s in Chicago, and the fifth unionized Trader Joe’s in the country. Store workers will vote in an election held by the National Labor Relations Board, and if a majority of the store's 140 employees vote in favor of unionization, the store will be represented by Trader Joe’s United. Hundreds of Trader Joe’s workers around the country have chosen to be a part of Trader Joe’s United, an independent union that is not affiliated with a large established labor union. Workers state that they are in support of unionization because they believe union representation will allow workers to have their voices heard and to have more power. Workers are seeking higher wages, improved employee benefits, more paid time off, and greater clarity regarding employee store policies. Employees state that current pay raises are dependent on performance reviews, and oftentimes the criteria are not clear to employees.