Employees at City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco have unionized, joining the Industrial Workers of the World Local 660, KQED reports. Approximately 16 workers are eligible, and most have signed union-authorization cards. The store plans to recognize the union, with an official decision slated for tomorrow. “City Lights has always been actively engaged in the project of creating and evolving a fulfilling, equitable, and humane workplace. This is a key to our institutional philosophy, and it has informed our practice from the beginning,” City Lights executive director Elaine Katzenberger. “If unionization can provide us with new tools for helping us […]
Unions
B&N Union Square Employees Stop Work on Pre-Holiday Afternoon
Unionized workers at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square walked off the job at 2 PM on Friday, December 22 to protest “the company’s failure to return on economic portions of the contract amid their highest sales season.” After joining the RWDSU in June, employees have met with management to negotiate a contract throughout the fall. According to the union, last week, ceo James Daunt came to the bargaining table. In a release, the union stated, “If the company wants to live up to James Daunt’s vision of a well trained, knowledgeable sales team, and a shopping experience for […]
Powell’s Union Agrees to Contract
After striking in September and rejecting a tentative agreement in November, the Powell’s bookstore union voted to ratify a new contract with 93 percent of members voting yes. The new contract, which lasts for the next four years, promises wage increases that average approximately 28 percent over the life of the contract, expedited promotions for entry level workers, and decreased costs for healthcare claims. Notably, the contract also restores the paid time off accrual for any employee who was rehired after being laid off in 2020.
Scholastic Union Wins Contract
The Scholastic Union has reached a tentative agreement with management, they announced on social media. The new contract stipulates a minimum salary of $65,000, with standard wage increases and a $3,250 bonus on ratification. The union comprises 82 Scholastic magazine employees, represented by the NewsGuild of New York. The contract also includes a “health and safety provision” and a hybrid work clause that “secures [their] right to work remotely.” The union also avoided a management’s rights clause, which would give Scholastic “more expansive power to make unilateral decisions without bargaining with us.”
More B&N Workers Unionize
Employees at Barnes & Noble locations in San Jose, CA and Bloomington, IL have voted to form unions. Last week, workers unanimously voted to unionize at the Bloomington store, joining RWDSU. On Nov 8, 90 percent of eligible employees at the Almaden Plaza store in San Jose voted to form a union, joining UFCW Local 5. That makes five retail stores with unions in the US—including Hadley, MA; Union Square; and Park Slope, Brooklyn—as well as the campus store at Rutgers University, owned by Barnes & Noble Education.
Powell’s Union Rejects Contract After Tenative Agreement
The Powell’s Bookstore union rejected a contract proposal from management, after the union’s bargaining committee tentatively accepted it on October 19. When the agreement was put to a vote by the union membership on November 9, 62 percent of participants voted no due to dissatisfaction with the starting wage and pay increases. “While the Local 5 bargaining team endorsed a ‘yes’ vote, we are a democratic organization and the membership has the final say,” the union stated on social media. “The ILWU Local 5 bargaining team has reached out to the Powell’s team to resume bargaining ASAP, and to continue working […]