Workers at the Barnes & Noble in Manhattan's Union Square, one of the retail chain's signature stores and home to its corporate offices, have voted to unionize.
They join employees at a handful of other Barnes & Noble stores in the Northeast who have affiliated with unions in recent weeks, following a wave of union activity over the past few years at independent booksellers.
The Union Square employees are now part of the the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which also represents workers at McNally Jackson, Greenlight Bookstore and other independents.
In an announcement Wednesday, the RWDSU cited issues at the Union Square store ranging from workplace harassment to “unstable scheduling practices” and “favoritism by management.”
“Together, with their colleagues in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and just across the water in Brooklyn, Barnes & Noble workers in Union Square have sent a message all across the nation — the bookstore industry can and must treat workers with dignity and respect," RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum said in a statement.
“Workers at this store not only organized and won their union voice, but they did so with management literally above their heads in the corporate headquarters, which is housed just above the store in the same building.”
Barnes & Noble issued a brief statement saying, “We look forward to the new contract with the Union Square Booksellers.”
Ahead of the WNBA season and in the midst of March Madness, New York Liberty CEO Keia Clarke discusses the team’s new deal with Barclays and bringing even more attention to women’s sports.
U.S. Nissan head Jérémie Papin joins from the New York International Auto Show to give a preview of what’s to come from the carmaker – including the 2025 Nissan Kicks.
Ed Mitzen, the CEO of Business for Good, explains how and why he’s giving back by funding businesses from marginalized entrepreneurs to push social change.
Dana D’Auria, co-CIO at Envestnet, breaks down how she’s expecting markets to perform as ‘cracks’ from the rate hike cycle slowly filter into the economy.
A large cargo ship lost power and issued a mayday call moments before it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, though it was still moving toward the span at a rapid speed.
Candace Mitchell Harris discusses her path from computer scientist to founder of beauty tech tool MYAVANA – and how it uses A.I. to analyze each person’s unique haircare needs.
Michael Harris, NYSE global head of capital markets shares what to expect from IPOs in 2024, including A.I. excitement and why interest rate cuts are always helpful.
Lacy Garcia, Founder & CEO of Willow, shares why women, traditionally underserved by fintech, are looking for trust and a personal relationship from their financial advisor.
