On Jan. 15, workers at the Build-A-Bear Workshop in St. Louis, Mo., voted unanimously to join UFCW Local 655 for a better life. This organizing win marks the first Build-A-Bear Workshop in the country to unionize. Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. is a global retailer with about 600 locations.
The eight workers, who are employed as bear builders, sales leads, and assistant workshop managers, joined UFCW Local 655 because they were concerned about workplace safety, store culture, insurance costs and scheduled raises, and wanted a voice in the workplace.
The campaign to organize these workers included meetings with the workers about the benefits of joining a union. In spite of the company’s anti-union tactics, including captive audience meetings, anti-union literature posted around workplace, and the termination of key organizer the day before the election, these workers stood together for a better life.
“We love Build-A-Bear more than anyone, and that has been used against us for too long,” said Lucy Acevedo, a former Build-A-Bear Workshop assistant workshop manager who was unfairly terminated for taking part in the organizing campaign a day before the election. “We knew if we didn’t stand up and speak out for our rights then no one would. We cannot in good conscience allow Build-A-Bear to continue to take advantage of the amazing people who run each workshop.”
UFCW Local 655 is pushing for Acevedo’s reinstatement and has filed Unfair Labor Practice charges for her termination, as well as for three other employees from the unit who have been unfairly terminated and a fifth supervisory employee who was fired in connection with the Build-A-Bear Workshop organizing campaign.
“There are now two Build-A-Bear Workshop locations in Springfield and Chicago, Illinois, that are getting ready to file for their unions with our sister local, UFCW Local 881, as well as a Build-A-Bear Workshop store getting ready to file in Memphis, Tennessee,” said UFCW Local 655 Lead Organizer Sean Shannon. “The brave and selfless act to form a union by these workers is being done to fight for better working standards and compensation for not just themselves, but every worker. It only takes the actions of one group to inspire movement. The labor movement is still alive, and unanimous wins like this show it. Hope is alive, and the labor movement continues to grow with the new Build-A-Bear union.”