A contentious battle over unionization has arisen at a Sephora in Santa Monica after employees voted against joining the union. The union is now contesting the election results, leaving the store in a prolonged state of uncertainty.
Workers at the large beauty retailer on Third Street Promenade stated that they have faced intimidation and pressure from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 following their rejection of union representation. Employees claim this conflict has led to a significant turnover and has affected their hours and benefits.
“They’re essentially in limbo, with a union that claims to advocate for them but seems to be doing the opposite,” remarked Patrick Semmens, vice president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which is informally assisting the disgruntled workers.
Last year, the movement to unionize began among pro-union employees, according to reports from the store. In November, a union representative arrived at the store and provided a manager with documentation related to the union.
On December 2, a petition to conduct a union election was submitted to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In the weeks leading up to the vote, workers like Sandra Wael described being inundated with messages from UFCW, alleging that they spread misinformation and harassed employees.
“They were texting me relentlessly, making fun of our work, and telling me I should be scared,” Wael shared. “Even after I told them to stop, the messages kept coming.”
Wael claimed that union representatives would also ridicule employee-led team activities, suggesting the union’s primary goal was to collect dues rather than genuinely support the staff.
Leslie Lopez-Santiago, a licensed beauty advisor, mentioned she did not receive any messages from the union but was firmly against the unionization effort after a negative experience at a former job. She heard discussions among co-workers regarding “false promises” of better benefits from joining the union.
The election, held between January 7 and January 10, resulted in a majority—14 out of 25 workers—voting against unionization. However, the union filed objections on January 17, leaving those who voted “no” outraged.
“It doesn’t make sense to have another vote when the majority already decided,” Lopez-Santiago expressed. “It feels unfair.”
The grounds for the union’s objections remain unspecified in public NLRB records, leading workers to worry about another potential election.
In a message before the election, a union representative alleged that Sephora was attempting to intimidate employees into voting against the union.
Sephora stated it respects the right of its employees to make decisions through a fair election process and that it values the vote’s outcome. In response to the union’s challenge, the company emphasized its commitment to supporting employees and fostering an inclusive environment.
Lopez-Santiago countered claims of management swaying opinions, asserting that corporate officials maintained a neutral stance regarding the union.
“We were all aware of the situation; we discussed it openly for months, and everyone was confident in their decision,” she added, theory that it seemed like the union was asserting control.
With the case still pending at the NLRB nearly nine months later, employees report feeling the strain of uncertainty. Divisions within the staff have emerged, and multiple colleagues have resigned amidst the turmoil, reducing the team size to about a dozen members.
Wael noted, “This chaos is disruptive, especially in a store where we’re known for our welcoming atmosphere.”
Moreover, during this period, managers have struggled to expand the team, only able to fill vacancies as employees leave, which has led to complaints about being understaffed.
Lopez-Santiago shared that the ongoing dispute delayed her anticipated workplace benefits when Sephora altered its staffing model late last year, leaving her unable to transition to a more stable part-time role.
Frustrated by the drawn-out situation, employees submitted a petition to UFCW Local 770 over the summer, urging the union to retract its electoral objections, claiming it ignored the voices of those it aimed to represent.
“They won’t acknowledge our choices, and as the team shrinks, it becomes increasingly frustrating,” Wael concluded. “People are leaving because they’re exhausted.”
