Posts Categorized: Organizing

On June 29, workers at Pleasure Chest stores in New York City voted to be represented by the RWDSU/UFCW in their fight for fair treatment in the workplace, security protections and procedures, and fair wages. The workers at Pleasure Chest sell adult toys and reached out to the RWDSU/UFCW in the wake of the historic rights and protections won by the union for workers at Babeland, a similar store, earlier this year. The unanimous vote by the Pleasure Chest workers was certified by the NLRB on July 7.

The workers at Pleasure Chest, who are part of a predominately LGBTQ and female workforce, faced the largest union busting campaign ever launched by the industry. Workers held strong in their convictions for representation by the RWDSU/UFCW in the face of over 10 hours of captive audience meetings with management at the direction of both Jackson Lewis and Labor Relations International, two union busting consultants.

“The harassment and categorically tone-deaf anti-union campaign lead by Jackson Lewis and Labor Relations International that the workers at Pleasure Chest faced is an outrage – I am proud that the RWDSU will be at the bargaining table to ensure that these workers never face that type of horrific transphobic behavior by their company again,” said RWDSU/UFCW President Stuart Appelbaum. “This is now the second workforce unionized in the industry – and it has never been clearer that LGBTQ workers need a strong union voice. The RWDSU is proud to work with our new members at Pleasure Chest to ensure that they have the rights and protections they need in this highly sensitive workplace.”

“The company and their union busting buffoons’ blatant disregard for our gender identities during the organizing campaign only further demonstrates the need for a united voice, which is why we’ve decided the RWDSU will be a strong partner in securing safety trainings and protocols when harassment by the company or by the public takes place,” said Nico Fuentes, a sex specialist at the Pleasure Chest.

“Creating a sex positive experience for customers in the adult retail industry always comes with its own set of challenges and emotional labor, but became even more difficult in the wake of the vehemently anti-union campaign that was staged by the company. Now that we have won a union voice, we will have the rights, protections, and procedures in place through a union contract that will allow us to continue to provide a sex positive message in a safer and more protected space,” said Emma Schledorn, a sales associate at the Pleasure Chest.

On June 7, workers at Seward Community Co-op in Minneapolis rallied for a voice in the workplace with UFCW Local 653. The workers and their supporters marched to three Seward Co-op stores in south Minneapolis, including the Creamery Café, the Seward Franklin store on Franklin Ave., and the Seward Friendship store at 38th St. and Clinton Ave., in their fight to win union recognition.

More than 75 percent of Seward workers have signed cards authorizing representation by UFCW Local 653. The cards were submitted on June 7 to the National Labor Relations Board.

“I love my family of coworkers,” said Amber Young, who works at the Seward Franklin store. “I believe in Seward Co-op values. We want to make this a place where all of us live the co-op values – management, community and workers alike.”

Outside the Creamery Café, the workers met with Seward general manager Sean Doyle, who declined to recognize the union and begin bargaining a contract. The workers then marched to the Franklin Ave. and Friendship stores, where they spoke with customers about their desire to join UFCW Local 653.

“During my eight years at Seward, I believe I’ve seen unequal treatment,” said Amy Swenson, who works at both the Franklin and Friendship stores. “Enough is enough. All of us are hard-working people who are dedicated and committed to our community. We’re standing up to make Seward better and our community stronger.”

You can view the Seward Co-op workers rallying for union representation here.