Barnes & Noble Workers at UWS Manhattan Store File for Union Election with RWDSU
In a significant development, employees at the Barnes & Noble store located on West 82nd Street in Manhattan, New York City, have initiated the process for a union election with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). This move follows several successful union votes across Barnes & Noble Inc. locations nationwide, highlighting a growing trend of workers advocating for improved workplace conditions.
The workers, representing a diverse range of roles including Booksellers, Baristas, Cashiers, and Maintenance staff, filed for their union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). If successful, this would mark the third Barnes & Noble store in New York City to unionize, joining the ranks of the Union Square flagship and the Park Slope store in Brooklyn.
Concerns raised by employees at the UWS store include issues related to job security, a perceived lack of structure in job duties, and allegations of favoritism by management. Lauren Champlin, a Bookseller at the Upper West Side Barnes & Noble store, emphasized the significance of the organizing efforts, stating, “I take immense pride in the role we play in our Upper West Side neighborhood and, as a company, in local communities across the country.”
Despite the overwhelming support for union representation, Barnes & Noble has yet to voluntarily recognize the union at any of its stores. Workers have urged the company to acknowledge the union, facilitating swift commencement of contract negotiations addressing their concerns.
Eve Greenlow, a Bookseller at the UWS store, expressed the desire for positive change, saying, “We deserve not to have to worry about affording groceries, we deserve safe levels of staffing, we deserve consistent hours, and we deserve agency over our working conditions.”
The proposed bargaining units for the union would include approximately 50 NLRA-eligible workers at the West 82nd Street store. The RWDSU represents a range of sectors and has been at the forefront of advocating for workers’ rights.
Short of voluntary recognition, the NLRB could schedule the union election as early as next month, pending an agreement between the parties involved. As workers continue to amplify their voices in the labor movement, the outcome of this unionization effort at Barnes & Noble will be closely watched within the broader context of labor relations and workers’ rights.
Note: Barnes & Noble and Barnes & Noble College Booksellers are separate entities. The former is a privately held company headquartered in New York City, while the latter is publicly traded under BNED on the NYSE and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
