The company noted that it extended a reasonable, good-faith offer to the union, and was optimistic about resolving the problem.
United Natural Foods president Sean Griffin said the company will continue to stay focused on implementing its mission of meeting the needs of its customers in the Seattle marketplace.
"We regret the union's timing of this strike, and that it continues, particularly because of the impact this strike has had on our associates and their families in Auburn," Griffin added.
About 173 members of Teamsters Local 117 went on a practice strike 10 December 2012 over unfair labor practices. Following this, the workers agreed to an unconditional return to work; however, the company announced its intent to permanently replace 72 of the 173 workers.
The union then filed a new unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over the permanent-replacement issue, and resumed the strike. Currently, NLRB is investigating UNFI for 45 additional violations of federal labor law.
United Natural Foods is a distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and non-food products in the US and Canada.
