Employees at Park Slope Barnes & Noble Vote to Unionize
Employees at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Park Slope voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing last week.
Booksellers, cashiers, and baristas at the store first notified management of their intention to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in May, and asked that the company voluntarily recognize their efforts.
Barnes and Noble declined to recognize the union — and on Thursday, 88% of employees voted in favor of unionization — becoming the fourth Barnes and Noble location to join RWDSU this year.
“We’re really excited about the results and moving forward with the process,” said senior bookeller Haruka Iwasaki, in a statement. “I feel a sense of unity within the store. I’m happy that we’re coming together to ensure our voices are being heard.”

Just over a month after they first notified management of their intention to unionize, employees at the Park Slope Barnes and Noble voted overwhelmingly to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Stores Union. Photo via Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
Workers at the Park Slope store said they were motivated to unionize by low pay, unstable and inconsistent work schedules, and issues of workplace harassment and favoritism.
Part-time employees at Barnes and Noble