In a historic moment for labor rights in the retail sector, workers at three Barnes & Noble stores in New York City have secured the company’s first union contracts nationwide.
This achievement comes on the heels of a robust organizing effort led by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which now represents nearly 40% of booksellers in the city.
Over 200 employees from the Union Square flagship store, as well as stores in Park Slope and West 82nd Street, ratified contracts that promise critical advancements in workplace safety, wage increases, and healthcare coverage.
According to Stuart Appelbaum, president of the RWDSU, workers at Barnes & Noble should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished together in these historic first union contracts.
“United in their fight for increased safety in their stores, it was their voices among others across our union that won increased protections for everyone in the industry through the Retail Worker Safety Act,” Appelbaum said in a statement. “Today, we can finally say those safety protections are codified in their union contracts, which also include industry-standard setting wage increases, union healthcare, and more.”
The contracts reflect recent statewide legislation aimed at improving retail worker safety, but they go a step further, establishing a new standard for the entire industry.
The contracts include notable provisions like a significant wage increase: before the contract even starts, the hourly minimum starting wage will rise by $4. The general wage increase will also be set at $1 per hour annually over the three-year contract period, bringing the minimum wage for new hires to between $23 and $25 per hour, depending on their classification.
In addition to wages, workers will have access to RWDSU healthcare and receive essential safety equipment such as back braces and anti-slip mats for cafe areas. The agreements also include provisions for safety training, a safety committee, and new measures to ensure workers can step away from dangerous situations without fear of reprisal.
Bear Spiegel, a bookseller at the Union Square flagship store, said he’s most excited about the many safety provisions they were able to include in the contract to keep him and his coworkers as safe as possible while they do their jobs.
“Finally having a ratified contract is immeasurably meaningful. The bargaining committee and the unit as a whole have put so much into securing our rights, and that work is finally paying off,” Spiegel said.
Aaron Lascano, a senior bookseller at the same store, reiterated the transformative impact of this contract.
“The contract we voted on today was fought for and won by the workers of this store. Now, we’re looking forward to finally having guaranteed raises, excellent union healthcare coverage, protections from layoffs and store closure, and so much more,” Lascano said.
The improvements extend beyond wages and safety, with the contracts also addressing previously unacceptable working conditions. For example, the new contracts will convert a small closet into a designated breakroom for workers at the Union Square store, a significant upgrade from the inadequate facilities previously available for a workforce of over 120 employees.
“After over a year of struggle, it is great to see our store ratify a union contract,” James Dolezal, a senior bookseller at the Park Slope store, said. “We fought hard for every inch. Every contract ratified is a step toward ensuring that bookstore employees are treated with the respect we deserve.”
The ratification votes took place on different dates: the Union Square store voted on March 3, the Park Slope store voted on March 4, and West 82nd Street voted on March 5. For many workers, this victory reflects a significant shift towards better working conditions in the retail industry, where issues of harassment, wage instability, and poor working conditions remain prevalent.
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