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More than three-fourths of Willy Street Co-op employees across its three stores, business office and kitchen voted this month to unionize.

Employees voted 249-40 on Sept. 5 in an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board to unionize and join the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, also known as UE. Willy Street Co-op workers are now part of UE Local 1186.

UE represents other co-op workers across the nation, as well as workers in other industries.

“You don’t get that level of approval and that level of turnout just talking about wages alone,” organizing committee member David Droster said in a statement. “We believe that democracy belongs in the workplace, that we deserve a voice in the place that we work, and we showed up in huge numbers for that idea.”

Co-op workers have called for changes including an attendance policy that doesn’t penalize sick days, just cause for disciplinary action, a formal grievance procedure and more input into company decision-making. The specific negotiation points haven’t been decided yet.

Union members plan to elect their negotiating team soon, the union said, and will be preparing contract proposals.