Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced the ratification of first union contracts at three New York City Barnes & Noble stores. The union, which represents nearly 40 percent of locations of large booksellers in the city, raised the standard for safety, wages, and healthcare for their newest union members. These are the first union contracts for any Barnes & Noble workers in the nation and collectively cover over 200 workers across three New York City stores including the Flagship Union Square store below the corporate headquarters. The union also announced that a tentative agreement has been reached at the Bloomington, Illinois Barnes & Noble Store, also represented by the RWDSU, which they anticipate will be voted in on Saturday as well.

Tonight, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced that workers at Reconsidered Goods in Greensboro, North Carolina voted unanimously to unionize. This is now the second retail store in the area in a month to join the RWDSU. Workers at the thrift store faced an uphill battle to get to their union vote when the company tried to exclude two workers from the unit. Last month, workers went on strike over the issue and won in less than 24 hours, with the company agreeing to let all eligible workers vote in the union election.

Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced the union’s endorsement of Mark Levine in his bid for New York City Comptroller. The RWDSU’s members who live and work across New York City will begin their work in support of Levine’s campaign spreading the word among fellow members who work in grocery and non-food retail, department stores, pharmaceutical and recreational cannabis, food service, building maintenance, at area airports, in warehousing and distribution and other industries in the city. 

Tonight, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced that workers at the REI Co-op in Greensboro, North Carolina voted to join the RWDSU, making REI Greensboro the eleventh unionized REI store in the country. REI Greensboro workers first began organizing in the wake of REI’s October 2023 round of layoffs, which cut the jobs of 275 of the most experienced workers, known as “leads,” from stores across the Co-op. In Greensboro, two of the most tenured lead retail sales specialists were laid off, beloved coworkers who were known to embody REI’s signature “Co-op Way.” Greensboro workers proudly unite with green vests organizing under the banner of the REI Union from coast to coast, fighting for fair pay, guaranteed hours, a clear path to full-time status, and transfer opportunities within the company.