Unions

After announcing their intention to unionize last May, the employees of Los Angeles bookstore Book Soup have successfully formed a union and been recognized voluntarily by management. The store is owned by Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena. The Los Angles Times reports that the union is currently bargaining for “wage increases and additional staffing” as well as “disability access, fairer distribution of labor, greater transparency from leadership” and “democratic decision making in the workplace.” The starting hourly wage for booksellers, the LAT writes, is $16.50. A minimum wage provision in West Hollywood that just went into effect will incrementally boost pay […]

After several months of organizing, a majority of over 100 employees of Boston-based media company America’s Test Kitchen voted to unionize. They will join the Communications Workers of America union. The union plans to push for “competitive salaries; affordable healthcare plans; improved benefits and wellness programs; increased subsidization of commuting costs; transparent and consistent processes for hiring, performance reviews, promotions, and pay raises; a sincere commitment to diversity at all levels; a continuation of remote work flexibility; and the establishment of processes for employee input regarding in-office policies.” A spokesman for the company, Brian Franklin said the company will bargain […]

The HarperCollins Union announced that their over 250 members have voted by 99 percent to authorize a strike if the publisher “does not agree to a fair contract.” The union is asking for “higher pay, improved family leave benefits, a greater commitment to diversifying staff, and stronger union protection.” The union also charges that “many employees cite pressure to work extra hours without additional compensation.” Harper was the last of the big five publishers to raise minimum salaries to $45,000 last year, in an agreement with the union. The contract, as amended and extended during the pandemic, expired at the […]

Pen America United, the Pen America employees’ union, has been officially recognized by management and now moves on to negotiate a contract. In a Medium post, the union wrote that they demanded voluntary recognition on December 9 and have been negotiating since. “We want to work towards a Pen that commits to providing fair and equitable compensation, including clear and consistent policies around salary minimums, increases, and promotions,” they wrote. “A Pen that adequately addresses the root causes of burnout and secondary trauma, and promotes an organizational culture of transparency, equity, and responsiveness.” Pen America had an annual income of $12.3 million […]