Teamsters Protest Whole Foods, UNFI at Expo East

BOSTON The Teamsters, Jobs with Justice and Organic Consumers Association protested Thursday against Whole Foods Market and its leading supplier United Natural Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: UNFI) at the Natural Products Expo East trade show at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Members of the groups distributed information leaflets regarding statements by Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey, opposing President Obamas health care plans. An airplane flew with a banner attached that read, Whole Foods Dont Bash Obama. Later, the Teamsters interrupted the expos award ceremony to provide Whole Foods with the Mean-Spirited Award, a parody of the expos annual Spirit of Organic Award.

We are here to represent Massachusetts residents who shop at Whole Foods and are dismayed with the company for opposing a public health care system, said Russ Davis, executive director of Massachusetts Jobs with Justice. We stand with the Teamsters and Organic Consumers Association to ask Whole Foods to support health care reform, increased sales of certified organic products from small, local producers, and the application of domestic fair trade that allows workers to form collective bargaining unions.