We are unionizing at Barnes & Noble.
At Barnes & Noble, booksellers are the ones creating value for the company and making our customers’ in-store experience special. Our hard work is the reason that readers across the country can come into our stores, grab a coffee, and enjoy browsing for their new favorite book.
Our work has value, and we deserve fair treatment for everything we bring to Barnes & Noble. That’s why we’re forming a union to secure better wages, safer working conditions, comprehensive scheduling practices, and a true say in how our stores are run. We need protections written into a union contract, and you do too.
We’ve already grown our movement to nine stores and we’ve won great union contracts that help our coworkers make their jobs better. You can get involved by filling out the form below. We’ll put you in touch with an organizer so you can learn more about how you can be a part of this growing, evolving movement of united booksellers.
Our Story:
Our union movement kicked off in early 2023, when workers at Barnes & Noble at Rutgers University formed their union with the help of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Since then, we’ve expanded to a total of 9 union stores nationwide. You can find us across California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
We can’t wait to keep growing our collective voice this year, reminding booksellers nationwide that we can thrive in our careers by coming together and standing up for our rights.
What We’re Fighting For:
The Barnes & Noble Union is a group of united booksellers coming together for:
Balanced Scheduling Practices
We need fair and concrete scheduling practices that help us do our best work and live balanced personal lives.
Better Job Security
With a union contract, we can protect each other from sudden layoffs and being fired unfairly. With just cause discipline procedures, we can maintain stable careers and thrive.
Fair Pay
Our work has value, and we deserve living wages for the profit we bring into the company.
Health Insurance & Stronger Benefits:
We deserve comprehensive health insurance that helps us take care of our well-being no matter the season.
Dignity and Respect on the Job
We bring knowledge and expertise to our stores, and we deserve respect for our contributions to Barnes & Noble’s mission.
Safer Working Conditions
Our coworkers across the country are fighting for safer in-store conditions, including better in-store security to keep ourselves and customers safe on our high-traffic sales floors.
Barnes & Noble Union News
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Vermont Vote to Unionize
April 29th, 2026 | South Burlington, VT: Today, another group of Barnes & Noble booksellers voted overwhelmingly to start a union at their store. Now, they’ll start negotiating their first union contract with the support of UFCW Local 1459, advocating for the same improvements to wages, benefits and safety policies that their coworkers at other unionized stores have won.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Hadley Win First Union Contract
June 7th, 2025 in Hadley, MA – Earlier this month, Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Hadley, MA voted unanimously to ratify their first union contract. They were the second Barnes & Noble store to unionize, and now they’re following in the footsteps of their coworkers at three NYC stores who’ve won a strong union contract this year.
In their collective bargaining agreement, these booksellers won higher wages, more consistent schedules, workplace safety protections, and a healthcare plan that meets more of their needs.
Workers at the Hadley store note that, due to this contract and the opportunity to fight for better working conditions, they’re feeling a “stronger connection and commitment to each other than ever.”
Keep reading: Barnes & Noble workers in Hadley secure first union contract – The Shoestring
BREAKING: Barnes & Noble Booksellers Win First Contracts at Three NYC Locations
March 6th, 2025, in NYC: Over 200 Barnes & Noble workers across three different NYC stores now have strong union contracts backing them up. These booksellers ratified their new deals with the support of the RWDSU, which is helping B&N staff nationwide get their unions off the ground in New York.
In their new contracts, these workers have won higher wages, better job security, a range of in-store safety policies, and the equipment they need to stay comfortable while working long shifts.
Bear Spiegel, a bookseller at the Union Square location, celebrates that “Finally having a ratified contract is immeasurably meaningful,” said Bear Spiegel, a bookseller at B&N Union Square. “The bargaining committee and the unit as a whole have put so much into securing our rights, and that work is finally paying off.”
Keep reading: B&N Workers Ratify First Union Contracts at NYC Stores
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does it look like to start a union with the UFCW?
UFCW, along with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), currently represents Barnes & Noble booksellers across seven stores to get them the working conditions and benefits they need.
When you form a union at your Barnes & Noble, you get the ability to negotiate your pay, policies, and benefits with your coworkers.
How many Barnes & Noble stores across the country have won a union election?
Right now, 7 Barnes & Noble stores across the country have won union elections. We’re working each month to grow this number, and we can’t wait to see who joins us next.
Want to learn more about how you can be a part of this nationwide movement? Reach out to an organizer today!
I Like working at Barnes & Noble – why would I want to form a union?
We’re unionizing at Barnes & Noble because we love our jobs too, and we want to make them even better. Starting a union gives you the power to come together with your coworkers and improve your working conditions more than you could do alone. Together, we have the power to make Barnes & Noble the outstanding company we know it can be.
Would unionizing change the things that I like about my Barnes & Noble store?
Once you file for your union election, it becomes illegal for Barnes & Noble to make any changes to your working conditions before your election day. Then, once you win your election, Barnes & Noble will have to bargain with you over any changes they want to make to the way your store is run. If there’s something you love about working at your store, it’ll be protected until you vote to secure it or make it better in a union contract.
Will talking about a union at work get me in trouble?
You have a legal right to talk about your working conditions with anyone you’d like, including your coworkers at Barnes & Noble. However, there are definitely some smart ways to go about having these conversations.
You can learn more about the safest ways to talk about a union at work by filling out the form above.