Workers sought and won union recognition to negotiate for a livable wage, better working conditions and a seat at the table
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Contact: Jessica Hayssen
651-261-8559
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Workers from the St. Louis Park location at Half Price Books won union recognition today from a National Labor Relations Board election, making this the fourth store to unionize with the national chain. Workers have unionized with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663 at the St. Louis Park location to secure livable wages, better working conditions and a seat at the table.
Ballots for the St. Louis Park election were sent to workers by U.S. Mail and a certified election count was scheduled for Thursday, January 6 at 2 p.m.
“We’re happy we organized a union so we can have protection of our jobs, benefits and equal treatment for all in our workplace. Now we will have a voice at work and a seat at the table when it comes to making decisions that directly affect us and our wellbeing. We’re so excited to be part of this labor movement happening right now with booksellers and other members of the working class across the country,” said Kristin Tamayo, bookseller at St. Louis Park Half Price Books.
On December 16 last year, workers won their union elections at Half Price Books in Coon Rapids, Roseville and St. Paul, Minnesota and unionized with UFCW Local 1189 and 663. Ballots for all elections were sent to workers by U.S. Mail and a certified election count was scheduled for Thursday, December 16 at 2 p.m. All three locations voted to unionize.
“We’re excited to unionize because we’ve been working so hard throughout the pandemic and faced huge challenges— like low staffing levels, on-the-spot training, overwhelming workloads— all while risking covid exposure everyday we go into work. Through it all, we’ve stuck together. We all want to continue working at HPB, and it’s exactly because we enjoy working here that we want to unionize and make it a place that we can sustainably stay employed long term. I am excited to unionize because I know it will help us to be compensated appropriately for the work we do, to have a voice in policies affecting our ability to do our day to day jobs, and to protect the benefits we have earned!” said Hanna Anderson, who works at the St. Paul Half Price Books location.
The Twin Cities is home to six Half Price Books stores: Apple Valley, Coon Rapids, Maplewood, St. Louis Park, St. Paul and Roseville.
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UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.