Building Union Power Through the Supply Chain: Mapping Opportunities and Jurisdictional Boundaries in Grocery Distribution

The trend towards increasing integration within the grocery supply chain is identified and its implications for trade union organizing explored. While offering greater efficiencies and reduced costs for employers, supply chain integration may also offer unions a new lever for organizing. The article outlines a methodology for mapping union coverage and highlights potential impediments to union organizing such as contracting out and jurisdictional disputes. Unions need to adopt a strategic approach to organizing and the early resolution of jurisdictional conflicts in order to take full advantage of current changes within the grocery supply chain.