Three unionized Barnes & Nobles in NYC have ratified an historic first contract.
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union announced yesterday that workers have ratified union contracts at three New York City Barnes & Noble stores, which is a first for Barnes & Noble in the U.S. Through organizing and solidarity, over 200 workers at the Union Square, Park Slope, and West 82nd stores have won a substantially better contract. Their new agreement guarantees a wage increase, healthcare, more safety equipment and protections, job and pay security, paid transit after involuntary late shifts, and a break room at the Union Square location — apparently workers had been taking lunch in a basement closet.
Aaron Lascano, who is a senior bookseller at the Union Square store, said that “when we started organizing, we were making minimum wage in unacceptable work conditions. The contract we voted on today was fought for and won by the workers of this store.”
Eve Greenlow, a bookseller at the 82nd Street store, felt like “a part of history” fighting for and winning this contract, but also acknowledges that there’s more to do.
“There is still a lot more work to be done, but for a first contract I’m really proud of what we were able to accomplish,” she said.
RWDSU, which has members in retail, food service, healthcare, non-profits, and more, also represents 40% of large booksellers in NYC, including workers at McNally Jackson and Goods for the Study, Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly, Brooklyn, and Book Culture. In addition to organizing shops, the union was instrumental in passing a New York state safety act last year that protects retail workers. Union President Stuart Appelbaum said that it was the Barnes & Noble workers’ “voices among others across our union that won increased protections for everyone in the industry through the Retail Worker Safety Act.”
Solidarity and congrats to the Barnes & Noble booksellers on their historic win!
