Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a series of historic reforms into law as part of New York State’s FY26 Enacted Budget—reforms that represent a major step forward for workers’ rights and economic stability across the state. These changes are especially significant for RWDSU members, who will benefit directly from new protections and long-overdue support measures.

This year, RWDSU Local 1102 took a major step toward deepening its community impact by launching the Local 1102 Charitable Trust. This new initiative broadens the Local’s efforts beyond the workplace, supporting community causes through fundraising, scholarships for Local 1102 members and their families, and donations to nonprofit organizations.

As RWDSU members across the country plan to mark Juneteenth—the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States—we remember that freedom and justice are not just ideals; they are goals we must continue to fight for every day, on every shop floor, in every community.

Today, workers at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York, announced their employer has recognized the workers’ union formed with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). On Thursday, May 15, 2025, a delegation of workers representing a clear supermajority of workers at The Center sought voluntary recognition of their union from the non-profit. The Center responded and formally recognized the union on May 28. On June 2, authorization cards were reviewed, solidifying RWDSU as the official bargaining representative under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).