Wonder if grocery store workers will largely be forced to unionize and fall under similar terms as airline industry with regards to limitations on a strike. "Essential work"
Aren't many grocery chains already unionized? I believe Safeway, Raleys / Nob Hill, and Albertsons are, at least.
Yes. It would make sense for existing grocers unions to assist in the efforts of these Whole Foods workers, and eventually expand to Amazon Fulfillment workers (perhaps working with other unions under the AFL-CIO umbrella).
none of those exist in my part of the U.S. I haven't even heard of the last two
In the Seattle area, nearly every grocery store (except Whole Foods) employs workers represented by UFCW 21: https://www.ufcw21.org/shop-union
Grocery stores and their workers could bargain over these details however they wanted. CBAs look very different from one another.
They already are unionized - at least in my neck of the woods (Ohio). If the Whole Foods employees are not, well, then that should be their first order of business.
My understanding is that a lot of their in-store employees are at-will and part time, and largely not covered by the unions... of course companies and states will vary.