The Verso Books Union in the US has ratified its contract with the publisher, the union announced on Twitter. The contract includes stipulations for wage increases, protections and increases in benefits, affirmative action in hiring, and clear “close to binding” standards for promotions, among other things. Specifically, workers will receive an 11 percent raise for the first year of the contract and a 14.6 percent average increase cumulatively over three years. They also “won a new salary band system that delivers predictable and automatic annual salary steps at the start of each calendar year.” As for back to the office […]
Unions
Politics and Prose Union Reaches Contract
Workers at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC, who unionized with United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 in January, ratified their contract yesterday. The three-year contract, which applies to approximately 50 current employees across locations, includes provisions for better pay and scheduling, new procedures to address disputes with management, and “expands on existing anti-discrimination language,” among others. Instead of merit-based pay increases, the new contract establishes a guaranteed annual raise based on experience and will go up along with DC’s annual minimum wage increases. “We are incredibly elated to have arrived here after eight months of hard work, and […]
Duke University Press Workers Win Union
The National Labor Relations Board has denied Duke’s April appeal to overturn the Duke University Press Union election, the union announced on Twitter. The move means that the press is officially unionized, and will now bargain with management on a contract.
Bloomsbury UK Union Seeks Recognition
Employees at Bloomsbury UK have unionized and are seeking recognition from management. The Bookseller reports that the union has over 70 members. A rep for the union said, “We have requested that management recognize us as a union chapel which represents colleagues across the UK offices, but they have so far stated that union recognition is not something they will agree to—instead opting for more management-initiated programs which are not fulfilling the same purpose as a union.” The company said in a statement to the Bookseller, “Our approach is to listen to and deal directly with all our colleagues, working […]
Book Soup Unionizes
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 […]
America’s Test Kitchen Votes To Unionize
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 […]