Victory at H&M: Largest Wage Increases Ever Secured for Local 1102 Members
After five months of intensive negotiations, members of RWDSU Local 1102 have overwhelmingly ratified a landmark three-year agreement with retail giant H&M. This victory, affecting more than 1,000 workers, marks a significant turning point for retail labor standards across the country.
Bargaining began in July and required unwavering determination from the union’s member-led negotiating committee. Faced with a challenging retail landscape, members stood their ground through November, refusing to settle for anything less than a contract that reflected their essential role in the company's success. RWDSU Local 1102 members across H&M are tremendously thankful to their fellow union members for their work and determination in fighting for this historic contract.
Key Highlights of the Agreement
The new contract addresses the most pressing needs of H&M workers, securing improvements that prioritize both financial stability and work-life balance:
Record-Breaking Wage Increases: The agreement guarantees annual raises throughout the three-year term, resulting in the largest wage increases members have ever seen in the history of their partnership with H&M.
Transformative Scheduling: Major improvements to scheduling practices will provide workers with more predictability and control over their lives outside of work.
Enhanced Job Protections: The contract strengthens language surrounding job security, ensuring members have greater peace of mind on the shop floor.
A Legacy of Global Solidarity
The success of RWDSU Local 1102 at H&M isn’t just a local story, it is the result of nearly two decades of international labor strategy. In 2004, H&M and UNI Global Union signed a pioneering Global Framework Agreement (GFA). This landmark pact committed the company to respecting fundamental human rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively, across its entire global operation.
This global agreement paved the way for RWDSU’s historic organizing breakthrough in 2007, when the first H&M workers in the United States won union representation in Manhattan. By utilizing the neutrality agreement established through UNI, workers were able to organize without the fear and interference often seen in retail campaigns. In the years since, RWDSU Local 1102 has expanded its representation to include additional stores in Long Island and New York City.
Throughout every contract cycle, including the 2018 fight for fair scheduling and an historic end to “clopenings” and benefits for part-time workers, and today’s record-breaking wage increases, UNI Global Union and the RWDSU national office have been fully supportive and that support ensures that the company’s international commitments are upheld right here in New York.
Setting a National Standard
In securing these historic gains, RWDSU Local 1102 is setting a new benchmark for other unions representing H&M workers nationwide. This agreement serves as a powerful reminder that collective bargaining is the most effective tool for raising the floor for all retail workers.