Barnes & Noble workers open a new chapter for bookstore workers in U.S.

UNI Global Union congratulates our U.S. affiliate, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), on a major victory for booksellers and baristas at Barnes & Noble in New York.

Workers at the flagship Union Square store and two Brooklyn locations have successfully ratified their first union contract earlier this month, securing significant improvements in wages, job protections and healthcare.

The three-year contract marks a huge victory for Barnes & Noble workers, who voted overwhelmingly to unionize in 2023 in response to longstanding issues of low wages, inconsistent scheduling and lack of job security.

Safety was a key issue in bargaining, with the union also pushing for the enactment of the historic Retail Workers Safety Act, while securing safety gains that go beyond the law. Improvements include the provision of safety equipment, a safety committee and measures from violence and harassment at work including de-escalation trainings and the ability to walk away from unsafe situations.

On 10 March Illinois Barnes & Noble workers also won their first collective agreement at their store with the ratification of the contract by the workers.

Stuart Appelbaum, the President of RWDSU and UNI Commerce said: 

“Workers at Barnes & Noble should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished together in these historic first union contracts from Illinois to New York. United in their fight for increased safety in their stores, it was their voices across the table that won. Now, we can finally say their longtime safety needs are codified in union contracts, which also include industry standard setting wage increases, union healthcare, and more. The Barnes and Noble unionization effort continues to spread across the country, and workers this month have shown a fair contract is not only possible, it’s well within reach.”

Established in 1971, Barnes & Noble is the biggest book retailer in the USA with approximately 600 bookstores, a presence in all 50 states across the country employing around 20,000 workers in total.

Mathias Bolton, Head of UNI Commerce, said:

“We wholeheartedly congratulate Barnes & Noble workers in New York and Illinois on securing their first collective agreements at the largest book retailer in the U.S. Winning these agreements in such a challenging time demonstrates the power of retail workers when they stand together with their unions. This victory is not just a milestone for Barnes & Noble workers – it’s a turning point for the entire book retail sector. We must continue to strengthen union power across all segments of retail, and these workers have opened an inspiring new chapter for booksellers in the U.S. and around the world.”