Posts Categorized: Retail

On June 5, members of UFCW Local 1625 who work at the H&M store in Melbourne, Fla., ratified their first union contract.

The 14 workers, who are employed as sales associates and visual associates, made history when they joined UFCW local 1625 in May of 2024, marking the first time H&M workers have unionized in the state of Florida.

The three-year contract includes the following provisions:

• Annual wage increases.
  
  
• Weekly guarantee of hours for part- and full-time employees.
  
  
• Bereavement leave that expands the definition of immediate family members.
  
  
• Job posting language.
  
  
• Emergency closing language.
  
  
• 30-day notice before any dress code changes are made and upon request, meet with the union to discuss any changes to the dress code.

“We look forward to representing the H&M workers,” said UFCW Local 1625 President Ed Chambers. “We are hopeful that since our foot is in the door, we’ll be able to organize more retail workers in the future.”

More than 150 retail workers at Ashley Homestore in the city of Mississauga in Ontario, Canada, recently voted to join UFCW Locals 175 and 633, marking a significant step toward improved working conditions and greater workplace representation.

Ashley Homestore is a retail chain in Canada that sells a variety of signature home furniture, décor accessories and mattresses, and the newly unionized members come from a variety of departments, including warehouse, repair services, and delivery operations. The organizing campaign, while challenging, resulted in a strong show of unity among the workers, who cited a lack of respect, overwhelming workloads, and health and safety issues as key motivators for unionizing. Many of the workers felt undervalued, pointing to concerns around dignity at work and unresolved workplace injuries involving the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, which is the workplace compensation board for provincially regulated workplaces in Ontario.

“Joining a union isn’t just about better pay or benefits—it’s about standing together to demand respect and fairness, and to have a voice in the decisions that shape our lives,” said UFCW Local 175 President Kelly Tosato. “The true strength of our union lies in the courage and solidarity of our members standing as one.”

With their vote secured, the Ashley Homestore workers are preparing to negotiate their first collective agreement around key goals, such as improving wages, benefits and scheduling practices; job security; and most importantly, restoring dignity and respect in their workplace.