OGDENSBURG, NY NATIVE ELECTED TO UNION’S SECOND HIGHEST POSITION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2022
Contact: Chelsea Connor | [email protected] | 347-866-6259
OGDENSBURG, NY NATIVE ELECTED TO UNION’S SECOND HIGHEST POSITION
Robert Layng, Jr. Elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
(NEW YORK, NY) – On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, Robert Layng, Jr., was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The RWDSU represents approximately 45,000 workers in New York State and 100,000 across the country in a wide range of industries including workers in retail, grocery, pharmacy, food service, food processing, cannabis, warehousing, nursing homes, non-profits and agriculture – representing New York’s first ever unionized farmworkers.
“I could not be more honored and humbled to have been elected to fill the role of Secretary-Treasurer of the RWDSU. I want to thank RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum for his trust and nomination, my parents for the work ethic they instilled in me and my entire family for their support. RWDSU members are facing some of the most extraordinary challenges they’ve ever seen as many continue to fulfill essential and frontline positions in the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever our union is supporting and ensuring workers have the critical support they need both at work and at home. I am proud of the tireless work of the RWDSU and the example Jack Wurm Jr. set, and I look forward to continue to propel the worker-driven mission of the RWDSU,” said Robert Layng, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
“I am excited about Bob Layng becoming the RWDSU’s next secretary-treasurer. He is an extraordinary individual with great talent, who cares deeply about people. He has played an important role in the work of the union throughout the years; and now in his new position he will be able to make even more of a difference in the lives of working people,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
Robert Layng, Jr. began his career with the RWDSU as an intern in 1996 and has held numerous positions within the union including Operations Manager, Comptroller and most recently Executive Assistant to the President. Layng was elected by the Union’s Executive Board to fill the remainder of the term vacated by retiring RWDSU Secretary-Treasurer Jack Wurm, Jr.
Layng, formerly of Ogdensburg, New York is the son of Robert Layng and the late Davalene Layng and has been married for over 30 years to his wife Lenore and together they have a 21-year-old son Miles. Layng is a 1985 graduate of Ogdensburg Free Academy and a 1997 graduate of SUNY Old Westbury.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.
NLRB DIRECTS MAIL-IN BALLOT ELECTION AT AMAZON IN BESSEMER, ALABAMA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11, 2022
Contact: Chelsea Connor | [email protected] | 347-866-6259
NLRB DIRECTS MAIL-IN BALLOT ELECTION AT AMAZON IN BESSEMER, ALABAMA
(BESSEMER, AL) – Today, the Director of Region 10 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued the Notice of Election, outlining the terms of the new union election for workers at Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) issued the following statement:
“Amazon’s misconduct during the first union election so tainted the outcome that the NLRB overturned the results and directed a second election for workers in Bessemer, Alabama. We are deeply concerned that the decision fails to adequately prevent Amazon from continuing its objectionable behavior in a new election. We proposed to the NLRB a number of remedies that could have made the process fairer to workers, which were not taken up in the Notice of Election issued today. Workers' voices can and must be heard fairly, unencumbered by Amazon’s limitless power to control what must be a fair and free election, and we will continue to hold them accountable for their actions.”
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.
RWDSU Celebrates the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (right) reviews an RWDSU contract with RWDSU Local 3 members employed at Bloomingdale's in New York City in the 1960s.
This month, Americans everywhere salute the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
For members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Dr. King's legacy has special meaning.
We take special pride that, in 1968, the RWDSU was the first union anywhere to negotiate a contract guaranteeing Dr. King's birthday as a paid holiday.
The RWDSU was among the earliest supporters of Dr. King's grassroots drive to challenge racial injustice in the South.
In Chicago during the 1960s, RWDSU provided an important forum for Dr. King to speak out against poverty in America's cities. Later, thousands of RWDSU members stood shoulder to shoulder with other Civil Rights Activists during the historic 1963 March on Washington.
Dr. King saw the Civil Rights struggle and the labor movement as closely linked. He was a constant ally of Union Activists and most have forgotten that Dr. King was in Tennessee to support a Living Wage for Sanitation Strikers on that terrible April day in 1968 when he was slain at the age of 39.
Dr. King spoke about the importance of the Labor Movement on many occasions.
"Our needs are identical with Labor's needs: decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old age security, and health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children, and respect in the community. That is why negroes support Labor's demands and fight laws which curb Labor. That is why the Labor-hater and the Labor-baiter is virtually always a twin-headed creature spewing anti-negro epithets from one mouth and anti-labor propaganda from the other mouth," Dr. King said in a speech in 1961.
In reflecting on the life and work of Dr. King, the RWDSU recognizes the fight he began is not over until equality for all is a reality, and it is up to our generation of RWDSU members to complete his mission.
His spirit lives on in the Black Lives Matter movement, the labor movement, and everywhere people seek to create a more just and equal society for all of us.
RETAIL, WHOLESALE AND DEPARTMENT STORE UNION ENDORSES KATHY HOCHUL FOR GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 10, 2022
Contact: Chelsea Connor | [email protected] | 347-866-6259
RETAIL, WHOLESALE AND DEPARTMENT STORE UNION ENDORSES KATHY HOCHUL FOR GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK
(NEW YORK, NY) – Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced its endorsement of New York Governor, Kathy Hochul. The RWDSU represents approximately 45,000 workers in New York State in a wide range of industries including retail, grocery, pharmacy, food service, food processing, cannabis, warehousing, nursing homes, non-profits and agriculture – representing New York’s first ever unionized farmworkers.
“Governor Kathy Hochul recognizes that workplace safety must be prioritized amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and she is deeply committed to advocating for our members – many of whom are essential workers on the front lines in the COVID-19 crisis. Upon taking office in late August, Governor Hochul acted swiftly to implement profound safety protections for our members under the NY Hero Act. She has a proven track record as a strong and smart leader with a steady hand. She has taken on the unemployment crisis many of our members face and created funds to help our members in the tourism industry, which include our members who work in airline catering. She has looked to support workers seeking to unionize in both new and emerging industries like adult-use cannabis and historically excluded farmworkers. Governor Hochul has already shown us that workers will have a seat at the table in her administration – and Kathy has our full support as she seeks to continue her work as Governor of New York,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
“I am humbled and honored to receive this endorsement from the hardworking members of the RWDSU who have kept us safe, fed and healthy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “The RWDSU has been a strong advocate for the needs and rights of its members. RWDSU members provide critical services to us as we continue to weather the pandemic, from retail, grocery and pharmacy workers, to health aids and social workers at non-profits and in nursing homes, to food processing workers that produce the food on our dinner tables – they are there. New York is at its best when organized labor has a seat at the table and when we ensure our workers are treated fairly and with dignity and respect. I look forward to RWDSU's continued partnership in delivering the strongest pro-worker agenda in the nation.”
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.
New Pact for Pepsi Workers in Massachusetts
RWDSU Local 513 members in Canton, Massachusetts, have ratified a new contract with their employer, Pepsi. Over 100 RWDSU members there will see significant wage increases – up to $3 per hour for some classifications – over the course of the four-year agreement. The New England Joint Board members, who serve as warehouse workers and route drivers/merchandisers throughout the Boston area, will also see their health care protected at no cost to themselves. The health care benefits have also expanded, with a new telehealth/virtual visit benefit being added to the plan.
“This is a great contract we can all be proud of,” said Pepsi employee Paul Cronin. “The pandemic has been a challenge, with much of the college and restaurant business affected, but we’ve kept the plant working throughout the entire time. Now, hopefully coming out of the pandemic, we are doing so with a strong contract that we won together.”
Strong New Contract in Ohio for Fresh Mark Employees
RWDSU members at Fresh Mark in Massillon, Ohio, and at Fresh Mark cold storage ratified a new three-year contract that brings numerous improvements to 450 RWDSU members employed in food processing and cold storage there. The new agreement, which was overwhelmingly ratified, adds a fifth week of paid vacation, and also includes significant annual wage increases including six percent the first year.
Members with 10 years of service or more get vacation pay of 3 percent of their last year’s total earnings, marking a 50 percent increase over the previous benefit. Workers in progression went from five years to 18 months, which means they will earn Base Labor Wage much earlier. Maintenance workers will earn an additional 60 cents an hour with approved classes on top of their normal wage improvements. The contract also changes paychecks to weekly from bi-weekly, increases sick and accident benefits, increases the company’s 401K match, and increases the night shift differential from 25 cents all the way to $1.50 an hour.
Serving on the Negotiating Committee were James Danzy, Juan Moscoso, Kristina Hoffner, Andrew Borntrager, JP Munford, and RWDSU Representative Fred Jimenez. RWDSU members at Fresh Mark produce bacon, ham, dry sausage, hot dogs and lunch meats.
HEALTH CARE WORKERS NEED MANDATORY OSHA PROTECTIONS FROM COVID-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 28, 2021
RWDSU Contact: Chelsea Connor | [email protected] | 347-866-6259
AFL-CIO Contact: Tim Schlittner | [email protected] | 202-637-5018
HEALTH CARE WORKERS NEED MANDATORY OSHA PROTECTIONS FROM COVID-19
The AFL-CIO; the American Federation of Teachers; National Nurses United; AFSCME; the United Food and Commercial Workers; the United Steelworkers; the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW; and SEIU issued the following statement on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) removing the COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS) for health care workers:
First and foremost, we strongly disagree with the Biden administration’s decision to discontinue the enforceable OSHA ETS for health care workers. With the omicron variant surging and no permanent standard in place, our front-line heroes are in grave danger of COVID-19 infection. Workplace COVID-19 outbreaks are exploding; recent data show the number of infections doubled and deaths nearly quadrupled among nursing home workers alone.
The ETS made clear to health care employers that proven prevention measures limiting airborne exposures to COVID-19 are absolutely necessary and would be fully enforced to keep workers from getting sick and being removed from work. These include improved ventilation, patient screening and respirators, and providing paid leave when workers are infected and must quarantine.
Our message to every employer is this: While vaccines and boosters help prevent serious disease and death, COVID-19 is life-threatening, especially to healthcare and medical workers, and all proven protective measures must remain in place. The administration’s pursuit of a broader infectious disease standard, something we’ve championed for years, will empower us to fight the next pandemic. But to protect workers now, we need to build on the emergency COVID-19 standard by making it permanent, not scrapping it altogether.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.
STATEMENT ON AMAZON WAREHOUSE COLLAPSE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2021
Contact: Chelsea Connor | [email protected] | 347-866-6259
STATEMENT ON AMAZON WAREHOUSE COLLAPSE
“Time and time again Amazon puts its bottom line above the lives of its employees. Requiring workers to work through such a major tornado warning event as this was inexcusable. At least two workers will never be going home to their families, and countless others continue to be trapped beneath the rubble of the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois. This is another outrageous example of the company putting profits over the health and safety of their workers, and we cannot stand for this. Amazon cannot continue to be let off the hook for putting hard working people's lives at risk. Our union will not back down until Amazon is held accountable for these and so many more dangerous labor practices,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org,
Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.
STATEMENT ON GOV. HOCHUL ACTION TO ADDRESS WINTER COVID-19 SURGE FROM RWDSU PRESIDENT STUART APPELBAUM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2021
Contact: Chelsea Connor | [email protected] | 347-866-6259
STATEMENT ON GOV. HOCHUL ACTION TO ADDRESS WINTER COVID-19 SURGE FROM RWDSU PRESIDENT STUART APPELBAUM
“The safety of workers, customers and all New Yorkers is our primary concern as the winter COVID-19 surge is upon us. Grocery, pharmacy and retail workers are at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 because they have public-facing jobs. And many are essential workers at stores we have relied on throughout the pandemic. They are in contact with hundreds of people every day – and in some places, workers may be in contact with more than a thousand people a day. Today’s announcement by Governor Hochul will help keep our members safe as well as the general public. We support these measures, and we know they will save lives.”
“We urge employers to responsibly enforce mask policies in coordination with State Government authorities. Let us be clear, it is the employers' responsibility - and not that of their workers - to tell people to leave a store if they are not wearing face masks.” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.
RETAIL, WHOLESALE AND DEPARTMENT STORE UNION ENDORSES STACEY ABRAMS FOR GEORGIA GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2021
Contact: Chelsea Connor | [email protected] | 347-866-6259
RETAIL, WHOLESALE AND DEPARTMENT STORE UNION ENDORSES STACEY ABRAMS FOR GEORGIA GOVERNOR
RWDSU Helped Deliver Critical Primary Win for Stacey Abrams in Georgia in 2018 –
Plans to Bolster Campaign with Members’ Support in 2022 Bid
(ATLANTA, GA) – Tonight, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) endorsed Stacey Abrams for Governor. The RWDSU was an early and strong supporter of Stacey Abrams’ 2018 campaign, mobilizing members throughout the state to back her groundbreaking campaign that put economic justice, fair wages and opportunities for all Georgians at the forefront. The RWDSU’s Southeast Council includes 10,000 members, many of whom door-knocked, rallied, and phone banked in support of Abrams’ 2018 bid, and she will have the union’s full support again in this election.
“Stacey Abrams is a trail-blazing leader who will transform Georgia for the better. Her advocacy work, strength of character and sense of justice are an inspiration for the entire country and Georgia will be stronger the day that she becomes Governor,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU). “Stacey Abrams has never backed away from standing up for workers and the right to collectively organize. Whether it was standing with workers seeking to organize their first union with the RWDSU at Nestle, workers standing up to Amazon in Bessemer, or campaigning to win a pro-worker majority in the US Senate, Stacey Abrams was there. The RWDSU was proud to stand side-by-side with Stacey in 2018 and we are excited to be doing the same again to make sure she becomes Governor of Georgia in 2022.”
“Stacey Abrams is the voice of the working person we need, she is the voice for everyone in Georgia, especially rural Georgia where too many of our members' issues often go unheard. She is a leader in every sense of the word, and she is the exact person Georgia needs to lead the state at this moment in time,” said Edgar Fields, President of the Southeast Council of the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU). “We were proud to endorse her four years ago because we recognized these qualities, which have only grown as she has become a national leader on voting rights and racial justice. For a long time, Georgia’s government told corporations to set up shop here because there are no unions. They were wrong, unions have built up Georgia and Stacey knows that strong unions mean a strong economy for Georgia. RWDSU members throughout the state are ready to get to work to make sure Stacey Abrams wins in 2022.”
RWDSU Members in Georgia in 2018 on the campaign trail with Stacey Abrams, RWDSU Southeast Council President Edgar Fields and RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States, including 10,000 men and women represented by the Southeast Council. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.