FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2025
Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259
HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON STATEMENT FROM RWDSU
(NEW YORK, NY) – As the holiday shopping season is underway, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), issued the following statement urging workers be treated with dignity and respect from in-store shopping to e-commerce warehousing, from farm to table and everything in between:
“The holiday season has always been a time of great pressure on retail workers. This year, that pressure is compounded by new challenges. Soaring economic uncertainty, aggressive use of AI in scheduling and inventory, continued issues of theft and violence, and shrinking seasonal hiring despite rising demand have created a perfect storm for workers. While retailers and shoppers brace for tariffs and supply chain issues, it’s frontline workers who absorb the stress and danger. Retail workers are not to blame, and they must not be left unprotected.
“Across stores of all kinds, workers are facing more disrespect, harassment and even violence from frustrated customers. No one should have to fear for their safety just for doing their job. Employers must ensure safe staffing levels, security, and clear protocols for handling aggression and shoppers must remember kindness costs nothing, but it means everything.
“In e-commerce, especially at massive fulfillment centers like Amazon’s, workers are being driven harder than ever. Algorithmic oversight and AI-driven scheduling and processing punish workers for minor delays while pushing them into mandatory overtime. Physical injuries and burnout are rampant as Amazon refuses to hire enough workers or respect those who have organized. People are not robots, and no algorithm should decide their worth. Amazon and other major retailers must reduce unreasonable quotas, be transparent, and stop union-busting – full stop.
“As we gather around our holiday tables, we must also remember the farmworkers, food processing workers, and distribution workers who make the holidays possible. They labor in extreme heat and cold, often without necessary protections. They too are part of what makes this season special, and they deserve safety, stability, and a voice on the job.
“The retail industry is changing fast, with AI now embedded in everything from staffing to loss prevention. But technology must serve people – not exploit them. Automation should never replace humanity, dignity, or safety. Passing and enforcing laws that prevent workplace violence, protect worker rights, regulate AI on the job, and limit dangerous quotas is essential. But laws alone aren’t enough. Employers, policymakers, and shoppers must all do their part to make sure this truly is a season of goodwill – starting with treating workers with dignity and respect every day of the year,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. 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, Instagram: @rwdsustrong.