McKay’s, a group of five used bookstores in Tennessee and North Carolina, will close its Knoxville location in May after 40 years in business, Knox News reports. The Knoxville store is the only one with a union, part of Communications Workers of America, and has been negotiating its contract with management since forming in November 2022. McKay’s sold the Knoxville property to a hotel developer for $4.25 million. CWA has asked the National Labor Relations Board to file an injunction against the sale, asserting that the closure is retaliation against the union. Owner Sam Jacobson rejects that idea, claiming that […]
Unions
Powell’s Has “Final Round” of Layoffs, Plans New Investments
Powell’s Books announced that it had completed what it called a “final round of layoffs,” which have cut its staff by about 20 percent over the last year. The company did not indicate how many jobs were eliminated in this round. ILWU Local 5 representative Myka Dubay told Willamette Week that within the past year Powell’s has laid off 40 union employees and approximately 20 people in management. “These decisions have been extremely difficult, and we recognize their impact on our employees,” Powell’s owner and president Emily Powell said in a release. “With this final round complete, our focus shifts […]
Quirk Lays Off Union Staff, Pauses Editorial Operations
Quirk Books has begun a six-month pause on acquiring new books due to “marketplace and operational challenges.” As a result, the company laid off several staff members, including seven members of the union that won voluntary recognition in June—part of an exodus of staff members that began with president and publisher Jhanteigh Kupihea’s resignation at the end of 2024 and leaves the company at nearly half the staff they had at the beginning of the year. “Quirk has been facing marketplace and operational challenges for the past few years, and are in the first stage of implementing a strategic plan […]
Center for Fiction Union Wins Voluntary Recognition
The Center for Fiction has recognized its workers’ union after a supermajority of eligible employees filed for election with the RWDSU. The union will cover approximately 25 positions, including booksellers, baristas, administrative assistants, event production coordinators, development and grants assistants, and more. According to a release, they are “seeking to resolve a range of workplace issues, but are focused on having a seat at the table and a voice in decision-making, scheduling, job descriptions, and policy at The Center.” The union will now begin bargaining with management over a contract.
Quirk Books Joins Publishing Unionization Effort
A supermajority of eligible employees at Quirk Books, including more than a dozen in editorial, sales, marketing, publicity, design, managing editorial, operations, and production, have elected to form a union with the NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia, Local 38010, according to a social media post. They are asking for voluntary recognition from management. “The union seeks to ensure that employees at the company have a voice in decisions that impact them directly, including those related to job security, equitable pay, and protection from generative AI,” a press release states. On social media, the union wrote, “We love the work we do, […]
Abrams Employees Vote to Unionize
Employees at Abrams won their union election with a majority of eligible staff members voting to unionize. According to the union’s social media, 43 employees vote for and six voted against. According to a union press release, “Fourteen employees’ eligibility was challenged and their ballots were set aside and remain unopened. Their status will be resolved at a later date.” The next step will be bargaining with management for a contract. “Abrams will begin the process of negotiating a contract in good faith,” the company stated. “We are now turning our attention to working through next steps. We look forward […]