Monthly Archives: June 2023

Over 100 workers at the Barnes & Noble flagship Union Square store in New York City voted to join the RWDSU/UFCW by an overwhelming margin on June 7.

Workers at the store joined the RWDSU/UFCW because they faced continued safety issues amid the rebound of the pandemic, including workplace harassment, as well as substandard pay for the industry, unstable scheduling practices, a lack of structure when it comes to job duties and tasks at work, and favoritism by management. They’re planning to address these issues during their first contract negotiations.

The vote to unionize workers at the Barnes & Noble flagship Union Square store was conducted by an in-person secret ballot vote on-site at the store on June 7, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board. The RWDSU will represent over 100 workers at the store in contract negotiations, which will commence this year. The workers in the proposed bargaining units include booksellers, baristas, cashiers, and all non-supervisory employees at the store.

“I am so proud of my coworkers and excited to move forward as a unionized bookstore and a member of RWDSU,” said Jessica Sepple (she/her), who is a senior bookseller at the Barnes & Noble flagship Union Square store. “We still have work ahead of ourselves, but today we have shown how dedicated we are to improving our store for ourselves and each other. We are ready to create a better workplace and a better future for Barnes & Noble employees.”

Over 30 members of UFCW Local 27 who work at the Ralph and Paul Adams, Inc. (RAPA) Scrapple facility in Bridgeville, Del., ratified a new contract on May 25. These workers produce scrapple and sausages at the facility.

The four-year contract includes significant hourly wage increases ranging from a minimum of $1.35 to $3.35 an hour and $3.15 to $5.15 hourly wage increases for the term of the contract. The contract maintains affordable health care for the workers with no increase in employee percentages. The contract also includes a new bonus incentive for attendance, including four vacation hours a month for no days missed, allowing members to accrue six extra vacation days a year. In addition, the contract allows union representatives and stewards to participate in weekly safety committee meetings at the facility.

This contract was an important win for this unit, and members began chanting “union, union!” in the cafeteria after the ratification took place. UFCW Local 27 has represented workers at this facility for over 40 years.

“UFCW Local 27 is honored to have stood strong with the workers at RAPA and secured a contract that recognizes their hard work and dedication,” said UFCW Local 27 President Jason Chorpenning. “We remain committed to fighting for fair wages, affordable health care, and safe working conditions for all our members.”