On June 2, workers at The Center for Fiction, a literary nonprofit in Brooklyn, N.Y., joined the RWDSU/UFCW. This organizing win came after a delegation representing a clear supermajority of workers at The Center for Fiction sought voluntary recognition of their union from the nonprofit on May 15. The employer responded and formally recognized the union on May 28. On June 2, authorization cards were reviewed, solidifying the RWDSU/UFCW as the official bargaining representative under the National Labor Relations Act.
The workers, who hold positions ranging from booksellers to baristas to event production coordinators, are seeking to resolve a range of workplace issues, but are focused on having a seat at the table and a voice in decision-making, scheduling, job descriptions and policy at The Center for Fiction. The union and the organization are set to begin bargaining their first contract soon to resolve these issues and more.
“As writers, artists, community members and workers, we are proud that The Center for Fiction has voluntarily recognized our union,” said Henri Seguin, a bookseller at The Center for Fiction. “We know the positive impact that collective action contributes towards fair wages, transparent contracts and collaborative communication and we are eager to see it reflected at the negotiation table. We look forward to making The Center a fair, welcoming and empowering space for all.”
“We are thrilled that our union has been voluntarily recognized,” said Abbie Greenbaum, a barista and bartender at The Center for Fiction. “We have the utmost respect for everyone who works at The Center, and we are so excited to see the ways in which our collective action can make The Center an even more powerful institution. We can’t wait to begin bargaining.”
“It’s not fiction – the workers at The Center for Fiction now have a union,” said RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum. “With a union contract in place, workers will gain the clarity and stability they deserve – knowing their schedules, understanding their job roles, and having a real voice in workplace policies and decisions. Bookstore workers are a vital part of our communities and the stores they run, which is why they must have a voice at work to ensure the industry continues to thrive. The Center for Fiction did the right thing by recognizing that a supermajority of its workers want to be represented by the RWDSU, and by not delaying recognition, and we welcome yet another bookstore into our union family today.”