Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced the ratification of a first union contract at the Bloomington, Illinois Barnes & Noble store. The union, which also represents three New York City Barnes & Noble Inc. stores, including the flagship in Union Square, Manhattan, raised the standard for safety, wages, and healthcare for their newest union members across the board. This announcement comes just days after the union announced the historic ratification of first union contracts for any Barnes & Noble workers in the nation at the three New York City stores, which collectively covered over 200 workers.

Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced the ratification of first union contracts at three New York City Barnes & Noble stores. The union, which represents nearly 40 percent of locations of large booksellers in the city, raised the standard for safety, wages, and healthcare for their newest union members. These are the first union contracts for any Barnes & Noble workers in the nation and collectively cover over 200 workers across three New York City stores including the Flagship Union Square store below the corporate headquarters. The union also announced that a tentative agreement has been reached at the Bloomington, Illinois Barnes & Noble Store, also represented by the RWDSU, which they anticipate will be voted in on Saturday as well.

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.

By an overwhelming vote of 85% in favor of the union, workers at the Barnes & Noble 82nd Street Store on the Upper West Side of Manhattan have voted to join the RWDSU. Their win follows six overwhelming union votes nationwide by workers at Barnes & Noble Inc. and one at Barnes & Noble Education so far. Workers at this store now join two other unionized stores in New York City including the Flagship at Union Square and the Park Slope, Brooklyn store. There have also been a streak of wins by the RWDSU at independent booksellers in the area, including McNally Jackson, Goods for the Study, Greenlight Bookstore and Book Culture.