BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR ULY 19-25, 2019 17
Our Perspective
For Retail Workers,
Difficult Times
in a Seemingly
Strong Economy
By Stuart Appelbaum, President
Retail, Wholesale and Department
Store Union, UFCW
Twitter: @sappelbaum
While the economy seems to be doing
well, and retail companies, their CEOs,
and their stockholders seem to be doing
well, there’s a group that’s in danger of being left
behind; retail workers, many of whom find daily life a struggle to not only
advance, but to survive.
And that’s wrong, because traditional retail is still a strong and growing
sector of our economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
retail industry continues to be one of the largest employment sectors in the
U.S. and is projected to add half a million jobs through 2026. And while ecommerce
is having an impact on brick and mortar retail, it still makes up
less than 10 percent of total retail sales in the U.S. Traditional retail is still
the dominant player today in the retail industry.
Unfortunately, retail workers have not benefited from growth in the
industry, just like most working Americans haven’t seen any of the
benefits of a supposedly strong economy. The median annual wage for a
retail cashier stands at just over $22,000, and for a retail salesperson at
just over $24,000. The Federal Poverty Level for a family of four hoovers
at around $25,000.
Besides chronically low wages, especially for non-union retail
employees, retail workers face a number of challenges that can make life a
daily struggle of frustration. Scheduling issues abound, with many workers
struggling with insufficient and inconsistent hours. The practice of
“clopenings” – where workers are scheduled for late night shifts followed
by early morning opening shifts – can wreak havoc with workers’ lives.
Harassment and inappropriate treatment by customers and supervisors is
an issue for many retail workers, who are predominantly female.
E-commerce also presents challenges for retail workers, even while
traditional retail remains strong. Stores often encourage customers to
shop online, even while they are in the store, which can cost employees
valuable time and commission pay. Customers will order products online,
find they don’t fit or just don’t like them, and return them at brick and
mortar stores, where employees have to process returns instead of
making commission sales on the floor.
Above all, retail workers in the U.S. are getting fed up of being treated
like commodities and having no say in their schedules, pay, and treatment.
That’s why over the past decade, many have sought union membership. In
New York, workers at H&M and Zara have joined the RWDSU, negotiating
strong contracts that give them the representation they need to help build
better lives with their jobs. Longtime RWDSU members at retail stalwarts like
Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Modell’s have continued to negotiate good
contracts that are helping adapt to the new realities of the marketplace and
the competition and challenges brought upon by e-commerce.
There are almost 16 million retail workers in the U.S., and they are an
important part of our communities, neighborhoods, and our
economy. And while the retail industry is working for
CEOs and stockholders, it isn’t working for many of
the retail workers whose efforts are the
underpinnings of an industry that continues to
grow. For our economy to be truly strong, that
needs to change.
www.rwdsu.org
/www.rwdsu.org
/www.rwdsu.org