FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2023
Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259
BARNES & NOBLE WORKERS AT THE PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN STORE VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO JOIN THE RWDSU
Win Follows Two Unanimous Wins at Barnes & Noble College Booksellers at Rutgers University and at Barnes & Noble in Hadley, Massachusetts, as well as an Overwhelming win at the New York Flagship Store in Union Square
Win also follows an Unbroken Streak of Union Bookstore Wins with RWDSU Including Independent Booksellers McNally Jackson, Greenlight and Book Culture
(NEW YORK, NY) –Tonight, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), announced that, by an overwhelming vote of 88% in favor of the union, workers at the Barnes & Noble Park Slope, Brooklyn store have voted to join the RWDSU. Building upon last month’s unanimous wins by workers at Barnes & Noble College Booksellers at Rutgers University with RWDSU and by Barnes & Noble workers in Hadley, Massachusetts with UFCW Local 1459, and the overwhelming win at the New York City Union Square Flagship store by workers with RWDSU, workers in the Park Slope store have joined the tidal wave. Today’s win also comes amid a longstanding streak of wins by the RWDSU at independent booksellers in the New York area, including McNally Jackson, Goods for the Study, Greenlight Bookstore and Book Culture.
Workers at the store face continued safety issues amid the rebound of New York City post-pandemic including workplace harassment, substandard pay for the industry below that of independent booksellers, unstable scheduling practices, a lack of structure when it comes to job duties and tasks at work, and favoritism. Issues they’re looking to address in their first contract negotiations.
“I am happy and relieved about the outcome today. Excited to see how things go moving forward. I hope B&N is listening to us today and will work with us as we begin negotiations. And I hope other retail workers who are interested in unionization find this moment to be inspiring and get active,” said Sydul Akhanji (He/Him), 25, Bookseller.
“We’re really excited about the results and moving forward with the process. I feel a sense of unity within the store. I’m happy that we’re coming together to ensure our voices are being heard,” said Haruka Iwasaki (She/Her), 29, Senior Bookseller.
“Workers are sending a clear message to Barnes & Noble, organizing a union is the only way to win a voice at work that can create real change – and they’re winning by historic margins. Bookstore workers across the industry, from independent sellers to corporate behemoths like Barnes & Noble face safety concerns, lack of training, and substandard wages. Only with a union, will these issues and more be heard. It is time for the industry to open a new chapter on how it treats its workers, and Barnes & Noble workers are writing the book,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
The vote to unionize workers at Barnes & Noble Park Slope, Brooklyn store was conducted by an in-person secret ballot vote on-site at the store on June 29, 2023, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The RWDSU will represent over 30 workers at the store in contract negotiations, which will commence this year. The workers in the proposed bargaining units include Booksellers, Baristas, Cashiers, and all non-supervisory employees at the store.
Information about the current public campaigns, news of new announcements and information for workers seeking to organize at their Barnes & Noble’s store can be found by following @BNWorkers on Twitter and @BarnesandNobleUnion on Instagram.
NOTE: Barnes & Noble and Barnes & Noble College Booksellers are separate companies. Barnes & Noble is a privately held company headquartered in New York City. Barnes & Noble Education is publicly traded under BNED on the NYSE and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.