FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2025
Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259
LOCAL 1102 RWDSU MEMBERS AT GREENLIGHT BOOKSTORE AND YOURS TRULY, BROOKLYN STATIONERY RATIFY STRONG NEW CONTRACT
Safe Scheduling, 11% Wage Increases and Additional PTO Among New Provisions in 3-Year Agreement
(NEW YORK, NY) – Today, Local 1102 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced that members at Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly, Brooklyn stationery, have unanimously ratified a new contract.
“I’m really proud of our new contract, and grateful for the workers who first organized the shop in 2021 as well as all the booksellers across the city who have worked to increase union density at an incredible clip in recent years. We worked hard to reach an agreement that recognizes the value that frontline booksellers and sales associates bring to the company as well as the skills we develop on the job. As a result, this contract has substantially increased PTO for two-year tenured workers to address disparities between hourly and salaried workers, created more opportunities for promotions, and significantly increased compensation for all workers at Greenlight and Yours Truly, Brooklyn. I also believe this strong contract will decrease turnover, make better use of booksellers’ skillsets, and ultimately benefit the entire company as well as our customers and community,” said Maritza Montañez, Buyer at Greenlight Bookstore Union Steward and member of the bargaining committee.
“What makes me most proud of this contract is that it represents our member’s priorities, which were first and foremost higher wages. That’s what’s really important: the contract reflects the work and goals of our membership. Workers are under attack in this country, and rebuilding unions in all sectors of the economy – including the bookstore industry – is the path to alleviating the unacceptable insecurity of minimum wage jobs with no benefits. We must raise the floor, and one of the best outcomes of all of this is knowing our win will help establish higher benchmarks for the industry as a whole – materially improving the lives and security of workers we’ll likely never meet,” said Owen Watson (He/Him), Bookseller at Greenlight Bookstore, Union Steward and member of the bargaining committee.
“The bookselling industry is booming – and union members are rightfully winning the strong contracts they need to support this thriving industry. Bookstore workers across our union in just a few short months have won some incredibly strong safety provisions, fair and needed PTO for both full and part-time workers, and some of the best health benefits we’ve seen in contracts in a long time – and the provisions won in the Greenlight/Yours Truly, Brooklyn contract are no different. Congratulations to all our bookstore members on advancing their contracts at the table and uniting together to raise the standard for all across the industry,” said Jack Caffey, RWDSU Local 1102.
The vote to ratify the contract was conducted on Thursday, March 13, 2025. RWDSU Local 1102 represents workers at the neighboring and jointly owned Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly, Brooklyn stationery locations in Brooklyn, New York. The workers in the bargaining unit handle sales, stocking and information services in the stores.
New contract provisions include:
Annual wage increases amounting to 11% over the three year term of the contract (5% in 2025, 3% in 2026 and 3% in 2027).
An increase in the minimum hiring rate and unlimited stackables on top of wages for various added skills.
Two additional paid holidays.
Increased PTO on the 2nd anniversary of work.
PTO rollover, workers can now rollover unused PTO until March 31 of the following calendar year.
The company will now pay 5% more in healthcare contributions each year of the contract, and there is ZERO increase to the worker’s contribution to health insurance for the term of the contract.
Safe scheduling: A minimum of three people will be scheduled for all opening and closing shifts.
The RWDSU also represents workers across the bookstore industry including workers at Barnes & Noble who ratified their first in the nation contracts last week at four stores in New York and Illinois. Workers in New York City at McNally Jackson and Goods for the Study, and Book Culture are also members of RWDSU Local 1102. In New York City specifically as well, with our fellow union members at the Strand who are members of UAW 2179, together we represent about 40% of locations of the major corporate and independent chain bookstores in the city.
During the holiday shopping season, bookstore workers across New York City rallied together to raise industry standards and today we clearly have done that in this contract. Local 1102 members at McNally Jackson were also able to reach a strong contract banding together with Barnes & Noble, Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly, Brooklyn workers and others in the industry in recent months.
Greenlight & Yours Truly, Brooklyn worker-led bargaining committee pictured with RWDSU Local 1102 Union Representative and Lead Bargainer Eileen Crosby (left).
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Local 1102 is a labor union affiliated with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union District Council (RWDSU) and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). Local 1102 was officially chartered in its present form in the late 1930's. Throughout our history we have represented a diverse membership and continue to organize workers across multiple lines of work. For more information, please visit our website at local1102.org, Facebook, Instagram: @local_1102 Twitter: @local_1102