Thrift store workers join retail union
Workers at Unique Thrift in Kingsbridge voted to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union on June 7.
A day after holding a vigil outside the store on June 6, workers voted 36 to 22 in favor of joining RWDSU and according to the union, will have a bargaining unit of 64 employees. A group of workers approached the powerful union because they say they are paid low wages, receive no paid sick days, minimal vacation time and are verbally abused by managers at the store.
Unlike many other well-known thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army that are non-profit charitable organizations, Unique Thrift, located at 218 W. 234th St., is a for-profit thrift store owned by Apogee Retail. The company, which owns a chain of 30 locations, buys household items donated to the Lupus Foundation, a charitable organization that raises funds to help those affected by Lupus. A portion of the sale proceeds go to support the Lupus Foundation, according to its website, though it is unclear how much.
“People think that it’s contributing to the Lupus Foundation,” said RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum. “They don’t realize it’s a business. People are making money from the business and people who work there are trying to support themselves and their families. It’s not a charity.”
http://riverdalepress.com/stories/Thrift-store-workers-join-retail-union,52596?content_source=&category_id=4&search_filter=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=&town_id=
= new reply since forum marked as read
