Catherwood LibraryILR School

The workers of Willy Street Co-op, a small chain of food cooperatives located in Wisconsin, recently participated in an election administered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) as part of an effort to unionize. The campaign to unionize emerged due to a controversial disciplinary policy regarding attendance that caused the workers to call for action. The election was administered by the (NLRB) on September 3rd and 4th resulting in a final ballot count of 249 to 40 in favor of joining the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE). With over 300 employees, the unionization of Willy Street Co-Op constitutes one of the largest NLRB unionization efforts this year the NLRB largest success in Wisconsin in more than two years. The successful unionization of Willy Street Co-op highlights a trend of cooperatives across the nation moving toward unionization.