Webvan, the U.S. online grocer, is facing charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).  The charges concern illegal restriction of employees' free speech and right to association.

UFCW Locals 120 and 870 and Teamsters Local 70 filed the charges on behalf of workers in Oakland, California.

The charges before the NLRB maintain that:

• Webvan illegally prohibits workers' free association to gather and discuss issues or seek support of a union.
• Webvan illegally prohibits workers' right to solicit support for a union.
• Webvan instituted an electronic communication policy that violates employees' right to protected speech.

Webvan's policies prevent workers from exercising their legal right to organize a union. More than 300 people work in the company's Oakland facility and have been organizing to gain a voice over wages, benefits, scheduling and other workplace issues.

Workers are frustrated by Webvan's recent move that left workers paying a sizeable medical insurance co-payment. Inconsistent schedules, lack of real wage increases and nearly worthless stock options have encouraged workers to seek out union representation to gain a voice for improvements on the job.

The charges before the Labor Board seek changes to the company's nationwide personnel policies and, therefore, have implications for Webvan's employees in other parts of the country.

Nearly 1,000 people work for Webvan, spread throughout the company's 10 locations—San Francisco Bay area, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County, California, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Several of these markets are the result of Webvan purchasing HomeGrocer.com in September, 2000.

UFCW is the leading worker organization for online grocery retailers. Peapod.com workers in Massachusetts, Long Island and the metropolitan DC area are protected by UFCW union contracts. Workers at Albertsons.com in the Seattle area are also represented by the UFCW. The Teamsters represent grocery warehouse workers and drivers across the country. The Webvan organizing program is a cooperative effort between the two unions.