Workers at The Literary, a beloved independent bookstore and cafe, located at 122 N. Neil Street in downtown Champaign, Illinois have voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionization. The victory at The Literary marks the latest chapter in a growing national wave of independent and large bookstore unionization with the RWDSU, as well as a significant win for workers in the Champaign-Urbana community.

As the union representing the overwhelming majority of Flying Food Group employees nationwide, including thousands of workers across 10 major catering facilities including locations in Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) issued the following statement:

Today, Local 1102 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced that, by an overwhelming vote of 85%in favor of the union, workers at the Barnes & Noble store in Massapequa, New York, have voted to join RWDSU Local 1102.

Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) formally announced its endorsement of Adriano Espaillat for New York’s 13th Congressional District (NY-13). The RWDSU’s members who live and work across Upper Manhattan and the Bronx in NY-13 have been working in support of Espaillat’s campaign spreading the word among fellow members who work in grocery and non-food retail, department stores, pharmacies, in food service, building maintenance, at area airports, in warehousing and distribution and other industries in the city.