On March 21, workers at the Patagonia store in New York City\u2019s SoHo neighborhood voted unanimously to join the RWDSU\/UFCW\u2014marking the first Patagonia location in the eastern United States to unionize. The election was conducted via an in-person secret ballot vote on-site at the store and administered by the National Labor Relations Board.<\/p>\n
The workers, who are employed in full-time and regular part-time positions, including customer experience guides and team leaders, joined the RWDSU\/UFCW to address a growing disconnect between the company\u2019s public values and the daily realities of its retail staff. In their push for a union, workers cited a desire to regain lost benefits, including the restoration of previous Paid Time Off policies and health care coverage that had been rolled back. Workers also organized to secure guaranteed professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement, benefits that were once a staple of the Patagonia experience, but have recently been eliminated. In unionizing, workers at Patagonia\u2019s SoHo store are fighting to ensure their jobs are as sustainable and respected as the products they sell.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe voted \u2018union yes\u2019 because we believe in Patagonia\u2019s mission, but a mission is only as strong as the people who carry it out every day on the floor,\u201d said Morgan Skelton (she\/they), a customer experience guide at the SoHo Patagonia store. \u201cFor too long, the \u2018Patagonia family\u2019 felt like it stopped at the manager\u2019s office. Today, we\u2019ve secured our seat at the table to ensure our expertise is respected and our livelihoods are protected. We aren\u2019t just selling gear; we\u2019re providing a better experience for customers while building a sustainable future for retail workers in our industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this victory, not only will we continue to push forward to be heard, but also work together as a team to strengthen the work environment that we all care for,\u201d said Jeremy Cuevas (he\/him), a customer experience guide at the SoHo Patagonia store.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe workers at Patagonia SoHo have proven that even at a company with a \u2018progressive\u2019 reputation, a union contract is the only way to guarantee a voice on the job,\u201d said UFCW Executive Vice President and RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum. \u201cThese workers are part of a powerful movement of retail workers across New York City and the outdoor industry who are refusing to let their benefits and workplace culture be stripped away. We are proud to welcome them into the RWDSU.\u201d<\/p>\n