“Retailers say they’re trying to staff up, but the easiest thing to do would be to offer their part-time workers full-time jobs,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Forty-seven percent of frontline employees -- such as sales associates and cashiers -- work part-time, according to a survey from the Fair Workweek Initiative. Part-time workers reported an hourly wage of 32 cents less than their full-time colleagues, with hours fluctuating from 16 to 29 per week. One in three workers said they hadn’t received a raise in the last two years   Read more about this issue at Bloomberg

  RETAIL, WHOLESALE AND DEPARTMENT STORE UNION ENDORSES KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS FOR ATLANTA MAYOR IN RUN-OFF Highlights Bottoms’ Pledge to Leave No One Behind, Especially the Working People of Atlanta   (ATLANTA, GA) – Today, Edgar Fields, President of the Southeast Council of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), whose membership includes 10,000 men and women in Georgia, announced the union’s endorsement of Keisha Lance Bottoms for Atlanta Mayor. This endorsement comes just days after Bottoms edged ahead of a crowded field and prevailed as the democratic contender in the runoff election scheduled for December 5, 2018.   Earlier this year, the Southeast Council of the RWDSU hosted its very first Mayoral Forum in the city, where members and community leaders heard from candidates on the issues that matter most to Atlanta voters. The union has been a strong political force across the city for all working people and today, the Southeast Council of the RWDSU pledges it’s support for Bottoms.   “Atlanta is stronger when our elected officials write and enforce laws that uplift working people, Keisha Lance Bottoms has pledged to ensure that no Atlantan is left behind and that all working people will have a voice in her administration, which is why we are proud to endorse her campaign today and put the full force of the Southeast Council of the RWDSU and our 10,000 members behind her,” said Edgar Fields, President of the Southeast Council of the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU).

A new three-year contract for Local 835 members at Bunny Bread increases wages for Shipping Clerks and Drivers by two percent annually and maintains their health insurance. With the employee contribution remaining the same for the life of the agreement, the company will be absorbing a five percent increase in year three. The contract also protects workers’ pensions, and adds a fifth year of vacation after 20 years of service. Holiday pay will also be increased for drivers. The workers are employed at Bunny Bread in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Bargaining Committee consisted of Chief Steward Michael David Fricker and Indiana Joint Board President Dave Altman.

  STATEMENT FROM RWDSU PRESIDENT STUART APPELBAUM Members in Nassau County Worked Tirelessly in Support Laura Curran and Jack Schnirman   NEW YORK, NY – Tonight, President Stuart Appelbaum of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) highlighted the work of RWDSU Locals 338 and 1102 on Laura Curran and Jack Schnirman races in Nassau County, Long Island. RWDSU members door-knocked and phone banked for the new Nassau County Executive and Comptroller throughout the fall and on Election Day to ensure candidates, who would advocate for union values, won tonight.   “Nassau County needs strong leaders who will fight to ensure that workers’ voices are heard and that every dollar is used diligently to help hard-working people across the county – Laura Curran and Jack Schnirman are those leaders. Members of RWDSU Locals 338 and 1102 have been working with Laura and Jack throughout their campaigns and we know that they will make Nassau’s communities fiscally healthy while providing much needed support to the services and programs that matter to our members – like early childhood programs, workforce development programs, and infrastructure projects that improve transportation in the county. Although the results haven’t been certified yet, the candidates have declared victory and we congratulate them tonight,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

STATEMENT FROM RWDSU PRESIDENT STUART APPELBAUM Members in NYC Worked Tirelessly in Support of Bill de Blasio’s Re-Election Campaign and in Key Council Races, Securing Wins for RWDSU Endorsed Candidates   NEW YORK, NY – Today, President Stuart Appelbaum of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) congratulated Mayor Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Letitia James and Comptroller Scott Stringer, who won their re-election campaigns tonight as well as candidates in critical City Council races across the city. RWDSU door-knocked and phone banked for the union’s endorsed candidates throughout the fall and on Election Day to ensure candidates, who would advocate for union values, won tonight.   “We were the first to endorse Mayor Bill de Blasio’s re-election campaign because we know in his second term he will continue to fight for working people throughout the city, just as he always has. Mark Gjonaj, Elizabeth Crowley, Margaret Chin and Justin Brannan had hard fought general elections and we are still awaiting the results for Elizabeth and Justin. Our endorsed candidates know what hard working families need in New York City to live and work here – and we know they will work closely with us to protect our city's working women and men. Congratulations to all the candidates and winners especially our new City Council members Mark Gjonaj, Francisco Moya, Keith Powers, Diana Ayala, Alicka Ampry-Samuels, Carlina Rivera, Adrienne Adams and Kalman Yager. We look forward to working together on issues that affect our members and low income New Yorkers,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU).

  STATEMENT FROM RWDSU PRESIDENT STUART APPELBAUM RWDSU Members Help Deliver Gubernatorial Win for Phil Murphy in New Jersey – a Real Voice for Workers Across the State NEWARK, NJ – Today, President Stuart Appelbaum of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) congratulated the work of members of RWDSU Local 108 and Local 262 in New Jersey whose tireless efforts helped ensured victory tonight for Phil Murphy for Governor and Sheila Oliver for Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey. RWDSU members door-knocked, mailed and phone banked for the union’s endorsed candidates across the state throughout the fall and on Election Day to ensure candidates, who would advocate for union values, won tonight. “Phil Murphy and Sheila Oliver are elected officials who will work for the people, and we are proud to have been an integral part of their win tonight,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). “Phil and Sheila have put forth a plan to help workers that will ensure they have a voice not just in Trenton but across New Jersey. They have pledged to create new good paying jobs with strong labor standards, to establish a child care tax credit and close tax loopholes for the rich, and to raise the minimum wage to $15. But perhaps even more critical – they will oppose any effort to turn New Jersey into a right-to-work state. I am proud of the work our members at Local 108 & Local 262 have done and we look forward to working with Phil and Sheila in their new roles as Governor and Lieutenant Governor.”

A New York Times article details how NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio - buoyed by early support of unions like the RWDSU - is cruising toward re-election. read it here