Workers at a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, voted on Monday to unionize, marking the first union formed at the organic grocery chain, which is owned by Amazon.

The majority of employees at the flagship store, located in Center City, Philadelphia, voted to join a local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), which represents hundreds of thousands of grocery workers nationwide. The union reported that 130 workers voted in favor of unionizing, while 100 voted against it.

In a statement the UFCW local chapter hailed the vote as a "significant victory" in the workers' efforts to secure fair wages, improved benefits, and a safer, more supportive workplace. They also accused Amazon of using anti-union tactics and intimidation leading up to the vote.

“This fight is far from over, but today’s victory is an important step forward,” said Wendell Young IV, president of the local UFCW chapter. “We are ready to bring Whole Foods to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair first contract that reflects the workers’ needs and priorities.” Whole Foods, in a statement, expressed disappointment in the vote’s outcome but reiterated its commitment to maintaining a positive working environment at the Center City store.

The company also emphasized that it “is proud to offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and career advancement opportunities to all Team Members.”

Amazon has faced and opposed multiple unionization efforts at its various businesses, particularly in its warehouses and among delivery drivers. In one notable case, warehouse workers in Staten Island succeeded in forming a union, but Amazon has not yet engaged in negotiations. Some delivery drivers in states like California, New York, and Georgia have also succeeded in unionizing.

Back in November, when the Philadelphia workers filed their formal petition to hold the vote, UFCW stated that they were fighting for better compensation and working conditions at “one of the most profitable organic grocers in the world.”

Many employees at the Philadelphia store had been with the chain for years, yet some still struggled to afford basic needs like rent, healthcare, and childcare. “I believe workers’ rights are definitely under threat, and this is one way we can fight back,” said Leeya, a Whole Foods worker, in a video shared by a group of workers at the Center City store.

Another worker, Ben, highlighted the rising cost of living. “We need improvement to our actual material conditions,” he said in the video posted the day before the vote.

Several workers also voiced concerns about alleged union-busting activities, accusing Whole Foods management of spreading anti-union messages, altering staffing, and attempting to improve morale without addressing the workers' concerns.

Earlier this month, the UFCW local chapter filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Whole Foods of threatening and discriminating against pro-union employees and spying on their union activities, all of which are violations of U.S. labor law.

Just days before the vote, three U.S. representatives from Pennsylvania sent a letter to Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, expressing concern over reports that workers were facing “various forms of obstruction” by management as they exercised their legal right to unionize. The lawmakers urged Whole Foods to allow the vote to proceed without interference and to respect the results.