On Jan. 3, workers at the PetSmart store in Midland, Texas, voted to join UFCW Local 540 for a better life. This organizing win marks the second unit of PetSmart workers to join our union family. Workers at the PetSmart store in Mishawaka, Ind., became the first PetSmart store in the county to unionize by joining UFCW Local 700 last October.
An overwhelming majority of the Midland PetSmart workers signed union authorization cards to join the UFCW before filing for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, citing the company’s restructuring plan, inadequate hours, and safer working conditions as some of the top reasons for wanting to unionize.
“I, along with my co-workers, am so proud of coming together to form a union that will finally allow us to advocate for improved hours, pay, and worker safety on the job,” said Stephanie Lawrence, who is a PetSmart customer engagement lead at the Midland store and a member of the organizing committee. “We went into this election united, and the results confirmed what we have known for months: PetSmart workers deserve a union.”
“I look forward to building even more power together so we can have a say in our future here,” Lawrence added. “With the power of a union, we can now finally start the work of making our PetSmart store a better place for workers, customers, and the animals we care for!”