B&N workers at flagship store launch union drive

In the US, workers at the flagship Barnes & Noble (B&N) shop in New York City’s Union Square have requested a union election with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), reports Publishers Weekly.

RWDSU communications director Chelsea Connor told Publishers Weekly that filing for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board took place after B&N representatives didn’t voluntarily recognise the union.

Grievances cited by the workers include safety issues, harassments in the workplace, substandard pay, erratic scheduling, a lack of structure regarding job responsibilities, favouritism by management, and a lack of a transparency regarding promotions.

Two weeks ago, workers at a B&N store in Hadley, Massachusetts also filed for a union election with the United Food and Commercial Workers, while the RWDSU already represents workers at several NYC indie bookshops, including McNally Jackson, Greenlight and Book Culture.

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