Bloomingfoods board members say they will remain neutral regarding employees' efforts to unionize.
The co-op's general manager George Huntington made the announcement at the annual board meeting last night.
"We agreed in principle last evening to officially declare neutrality that will grant access to local UFCW Local 700 to expedite the process of communicating with our staff regarding unionization so a vote on the matter can happen soon," Huntington says.
Huntington says he spoke with other co-ops that already have unionized workers before the decision was made.
Member-owners at the board meeting seemed pleased with the stance.
"I really liked their response," Ann Watzel, Bloomington resident, says. "It adhered to all the seven principles of a co-op."
The employees who began the unionization effort say they hope to take a vote to unionize in before Thanksgiving.
This announcement comes two months after Bloomingfoods workers began unionization efforts.