On May 3, workers at the H&M store in Melbourne, Fla., voted to join UFCW Local 1625 by an overwhelming margin. This organizing win marks the first time that H&M workers have unionized in the state of Florida.
The 20 workers, who are employed full- and part-time at the store, joined our union family because they wanted to be protected and have a voice in the workplace, as well as the ability to create a healthier work environment.
The campaign to organize these workers included identifying connections around workplace issues. The campaign was largely driven by the workers, who took the time to not only gather workplace concerns from their colleagues, but also to meet and discuss ways to address the concerns. When workers began to identify what concerns each person had, they quickly realized they weren’t alone.
“We are proud to welcome the associates at H&M into our Local 1625 family,” said UFCW Local 1625 President Ed Chambers. “What those H&M workers did took amazing courage, hard work, and determination. We will continue to fight together to create the life you deserve for all associates across the state.”