More than 500 General Mills workers in Cedar Rapids will be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

Workers voted Wednesday during two National Labor Relations Board election sessions, according to a news release. The union will represent about 520 General Mills workers in contract negotiations.

"I’m proud to say I’m now part of the RWDSU and I know everyone who works alongside me knows that representation from the union will change our future here," employee Tim Sarver said in a news release. "It’s about time General Mills workers had a real seat at the table with the company and we’re ready to get to work on a fair contract."

The unionization effort comes after decades of labor union decline — a trend that some researchers link to weaker wage growth. About 10 percent of male private-sector workers were union members in 2013, down from 34 percent in 1979. Over that time, the share of women who belonged to unions fell from 16 percent to 6 percent.

"We respect our employees' right to make this choice and will work to have a productive relationship with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Workers Union at Cedar Rapids," said General Mills Spokesman Rob Litt.

Employees in the bargaining unit handle production, sanitation and maintenance at the General Mills facility. They joined Local 110 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which also represents workers at the Quaker facility in Cedar Rapids and Coles Quality Foods in North Liberty.

"We’re proud to welcome the workers of General Mills into the union," Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union said in a news release. "Once again, they show that the best way for working people to protect themselves and their families is the join together in a union."