FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2024
Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259
BARNES & NOBLE WORKERS AT THE UPPER WEST SIDE MANHATTAN STORE FILE FOR UNION ELECTION WITH RWDSU
Filing Follows Five Overwhelming Union Wins at Barnes & Noble Inc. Nationwide and One at Barnes & Noble Education at Rutgers University
When Successful, the 82nd Street Store will Join Two Other Unionized Locations in New York City including the Union Square Flagship and the Park Slope, Brooklyn Stores in a wave of Bookstore Organizing with the RWDSU Across the City
(NEW YORK, NY) – Today, Barnes & Noble workers at the West 82nd Street Store in New York City filed for their union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking representation with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Their filing follows five overwhelming union votes nationwide by workers at Barnes & Noble Inc. and one at Barnes & Noble Education so far. When successful, workers at this store will 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.
Today’s election petition came just after a delegation of workers at the store shared with management that a majority of workers had signed RWDSU authorization cards. With a majority of workers in favor of forming a union, workers asked Barnes & Noble to voluntarily recognize the union so that contract negotiations could commence swiftly around a host of issues workers are contending with at the bookseller, just as their colleagues at two other local stores have commenced. While awaiting response from Barnes & Noble, workers formally filed their election petition with the NLRB. The company at any time can voluntarily recognize the union, but has yet to do so at any store despite overwhelming, sometimes even unanimous, shows of support for union representation.
Workers at the store have concerns over job security, a lack of structure when it comes to job duties and tasks at work, and favoritism by management:
“Our organizing efforts mirror the swell in the labor movement nationwide, adding our voice to the collective force of workers who demand that the standards of their workplace be raised, for the betterment of themselves and those that will come after them. As a Barnes & Noble bookseller, I take immense pride in the role we play in our Upper West Side neighborhood and, as a company, in local communities across the country. In organizing, I want Barnes & Noble employees to receive the pay, protection, and respect reflective of the care and specialized skills each of us brings to our role,” said Lauren Champlin, (She/Her), Bookseller at the Upper West Side Barnes & Noble store.
“I care a lot about my coworkers. I want the best for them, just as I want the best for myself. We deserve not to have to worry about affording groceries, we deserve safe levels of staffing, we deserve consistent hours, and we deserve agency over our working conditions. I love selling books and am deeply passionate about the work I do. I truly want a future at Barnes & Noble, but this will unfortunately be impossible with the conditions of the present,” said Eve Greenlow, (She/They), Bookseller at the Upper West Side Barnes & Noble store.
Barnes & Noble Workers at the Upper West Side Store following their delegation.
When successful, the RWDSU will represent about 50 NLRA eligible workers at the 82nd Street store. The workers in the proposed bargaining units include Booksellers, Baristas, Cashiers, Maintenance, and all non-supervisory employees at each of the stores.
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.
Short of voluntary recognition, and pending the parties’ ability to come to a stipulated agreement swiftly, the NLRB could set this election for as early as next month. More information about an election date and procedure will be available via the NLRB.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States, including 45,000 in New York State. 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. The public can also follow the national campaign on social media @BNWorkers on Twitter and @BarnesandNobleUnion on Instagram.