On September 27, 2021, the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) certified Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW as the union to represent twelve agricultural workers employed at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic, New York. This is the first union certification in New York State after the 2019 passage of The Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, which grants agricultural and farm workers the right to collectively bargain. Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, first filed to represent the vineyard’s field workers on May 28, 2021.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) issued the following statement on Haitian immigrants seeking refuge in the United States…

“This vaccine agreement with Tyson shows just how critical it is for companies to meet with unions before making unilateral mandates. We’re proud to have secured paid time off for workers to get the vaccine and additional paid time off should they experience any symptoms, vaccine locations at our facilities, and a job exchange plan to ensure workers with medical and religious exemptions can maintain employment in areas with low interpersonal contact. This historic agreement will protect workers and our communities, and is a clear blueprint many other industries can and should follow.” - Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced that workers at Greenlight Bookstores and Yours Truly stationery stores have won recognition for their union. The RWDSU represents workers at book and stationery stores across New York City including McNally Jackson, Goods for the Study, and Book Culture. Now workers at Greenlight and Yours Truly will head to the bargaining table to secure fair treatment in the workplace and fair compensation in their first union contract.