Last night, President Donald Trump issued an executive order which stripped more than 75% of all federal workers of their collective bargaining rights. In response, Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), released the following statement.

Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced the union’s endorsement of Mark Levine in his bid for New York City Comptroller. The RWDSU’s members who live and work across New York City will begin their work in support of Levine’s campaign spreading the word among fellow members who work in grocery and non-food retail, department stores, pharmaceutical and recreational cannabis, food service, building maintenance, at area airports, in warehousing and distribution and other industries in the city. 

Workers at Barnes & Noble unionized stores in New York City organized with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), rallied with fellow New York City unionized bookstore workers including workers from McNally Jackson represented by RWDSU Local 1102, the Strand in Union Square who are members of UAW 2179, and Barnes & Noble workers from Hadley, Massachusetts, who are members of UFCW 1459, to demand the company reach a contract by the end of 2024. As the holiday shopping season gets underway, workers were joined by unionized bookstore workers to raise industry standards for all. They were also joined by union members from across the city, labor allies, advocacy and community groups, and concerned shoppers.

Today, Congressman Andy Kim met with union leadership and members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) from several industries for a roundtable discussion on workplace issues and joined the union for workplace walkthroughs at Twin City supermarket and Newark Airport.