Today, members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), joined by retail workers from across New York state, gathered on zoom to share stories and issues of retail violence in their workplaces with the media. Workers came together in the middle of Workplace Violence Awareness month to call for action on a critical piece of legislation that would provide significant protections for retail workers, the Retail Worker Safety Act S. 8358A / A. 8947A.

Today, Congressman Andy Kim announced the endorsement of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in his race for U.S. Senate. RWDSU represents 10,000 members across the state who work in a wide range of retail stores including clothing and jewelry stores, as well as automotive service, parts and accessory stores, supermarkets, warehouses, manufacturing, and in the public sector in New Jersey.

In March, 20 workers at a brand new H&M store – in downtown NYC in SoHo - joined Local 1102, and they’ve already ratified their first contract, guaranteeing paid time off, sick days, medical coverage, and more. Local 1102 now represents H&M workers at 15 locations throughout Manhattan and Long Island, New York.

By an overwhelming vote of 85% in favor of the union, workers at the Barnes & Noble 82nd Street Store on the Upper West Side of Manhattan have voted to join the RWDSU. Their win follows six overwhelming union votes nationwide by workers at Barnes & Noble Inc. and one at Barnes & Noble Education so far. Workers at this store now join two other unionized stores in New York City including the Flagship at Union Square and the Park Slope, Brooklyn store. There have also been a streak of wins by the RWDSU at independent booksellers in the area, including McNally Jackson, Goods for the Study, Greenlight Bookstore and Book Culture.

REI workers from across the country who have unionized with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) hiked to REI’s national headquarters in Issaquah, Washington, where they delivered their unified national platform to the company and called on management to bargain in good faith at tables outside – bringing bargaining to their literal doorstep.

Retail Workers, RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum, Members and Leadership of RWDSU Local Unions, Bill Sponsors Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Karines Reyes and Champions of The Retail Worker Safety Act Addressed Increasing Retail Violence and Harassment In New York