As the Empire State takes its first tentative steps toward reopening the economy, nothing is more important than ensuring we do it the right way. Part of this process will be the reopening of retail stores, most of which have been shuttered since March. And the single most important condition of reopening retail is ensuring the safety of employees and customers.

On May 20, RWDSU Local 108, along with Local 262, hosted a grocery giveaway in New Jersey for union members and others in need. The locals were proud to partner with Mecenas - a Latino-aid charitable organization - to help organize a food drive to help community members who have been affected by the pandemic crisis. The event was sponsored in part by RWDSU-represented supermarkets…

Yesterday, a worker at Amazon’s JFK8 facility in Staten Island, New York died of COVID-19. Amazon warehouse workers across the country have been protesting since March the company’s lack of safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) issued the following statement…

Macy’s announcement that it wanted to go ahead with its July 4th fireworks display in the midst of this pandemic should be disturbing to all New Yorkers for several reasons. Macy’s should not be spending millions on fireworks after laying off its entire workforce. Most of their employees cannot even afford health care coverage at this time. Many Macy’s employees have worked for the company for decades, and now they are on the street with nothing from their employer.