Amazon Faces Union Pressure in Whole Foods Merger

InsideSources discusses union pressure in the Whole Foods-Amazon deal with Trey Kovacs.

A major union with members in the retail food industry released a letter Monday calling for a federal review into Amazon’s proposed acquisition of Whole Foods.

Amazon could soon change grocery shopping forever if their proposed merger is approved. The online retail giant sent a shock wave through the industry June 16 when it announced the proposed $13.7 billion purchase of Whole Foods. Those opposed to the proposal warn it could have devastating consequences for the retail food industry.

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) argues the acquisition is about destroying jobs through Amazon-style automation. The union also has a lot to lose since it has many members in retail food markets. The UFCW issued a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) calling on the agency to investigate the merger.

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CEI’s Trey Kovacs notes job losses are a possibility but increases in productivity and innovation may increase demand for labor elsewhere. He adds better education, skills development, and the removal of arbitrary work restrictions will help.

Read the full article at InsideSources.