Florida Wells Fargo branch unionizes, first in state

Employees at a Wells Fargo branch in Daytona Beach voted to unionize Thursday, increasing the possibility that the effort could spread statewide.

The branch was the second in the company to approve joining a union. The other branch was in New Mexico.

With the vote complete, employees at the branch have become members of the Communications Workers of America’s Wells Fargo Workers United. This, according to a news release sent out by the union announcing the decision, puts the employees in a position to push for changes including improvements to staffing, workloads and pay inequities.

The next step will be to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.

The union did not disclose the vote count, but a picture sent along with the release shows five employees seeming to celebrate the victory outside the branch at 1302 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Courtesy image

Whether the votes in Daytona Beach and New Mexico are isolated incidents or the first steps in a movement will play out over the next several months — or longer. A Wells Fargo branch in Wilmington, Delaware, has also filed for elections with the National Labor Relations Board and others are reported to be considering it.

“We respect our employees’ rights to vote for union representation," Wells Fargo says in statement emailed to the Business Observer. "At the same time, we continue to believe our employees are best served by working directly with the company and its leadership.”

According to Wells Fargo fourth quarter earnings statement issued Friday, revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% to $20.48 billion when compared with the same period last year.