fbpx Skip to main content
Search
Industry

Retail Union

Bottom Macy's Worker Top

Macy's Worker

UFCW Local 3000

Caret $5,400

How much more the average union worker in retail makes per year over their nonunion counterparts.

118,229

How many UFCW members work in retail at stores like Meijer, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Macy’s, and Saks 5th Ave.

29 million

The number of people directly employed by the retail industry.

UFCW is the union for retail workers.

The retail sector is a growth industry and it’s essential that we turn retail jobs into good, middle-class jobs with fair scheduling practices for the sake of our communities, economy and country.

Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the economy.

It is the third largest employer of women behind the healthcare industry and educational institutions and the second largest employer of people of color behind the healthcare industry. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015 Current Population Survey).

While the retail sector continues to add jobs to the economy, many of these jobs are low-wage, part-time positions with high turnover.

Between 1990 and 2014, real wages for retail workers barely increased or, in many cases, actually decreased. After adjusting for inflation, the average wage at apparel stores fell one percent (from $12.12 to $12.01) and the average wage at general merchandise stores fell seven percent (from $12.36 to $11.51). (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, USD 2014).

But some workers in retail have decided to get together and go a different path. One of the best ways to raise wages in retail is through joining a union. The average department store salesperson working full-time earns $2.60 more an hour or $5,400 more per year if he/she belongs to a union. (BBNA, 2014 Union Membership and Earnings Data Book).

In addition to fighting for better wages, the UFCW is also fighting for greater control of and predictability in scheduling.

Manipulating schedules has allowed irresponsible employers to cut benefits, suppress wages and narrow the ability of retail workers to move up the economic ladder.

Within the UFCW is the smaller Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The RWDSU was started in New York in the 1930s and became part of the UFCW in 1993. You can learn more about the RWDSU here.

The top five UFCW Locals with the highest retail membership include:

  • Local 951 (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
  • Local 75 (Dayton, Ohio)
  • Local 770 (Hollywood, Calif)
  • Local 1059 (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Local 1-S*(New York, N.Y.)

Issues facing retail workers

How to get better wages and benefits

How to get better wages and benefits

Union workers earn 13% more than nonunion workers, here’s how we do it.

Fair scheduling and leave

Fair scheduling and leave

Time off for you, school, family or your community - fair scheduling makes it happen.

Job automation, technology and the future of work

Job automation, technology and the future of work

The face of work is changing - how do we respond and what can we do?

Major UFCW-represented retail employers

Organize and unionize your workplace

Are you and your coworkers ready to negotiate together for bigger paychecks, stronger benefits and better lives? If you are, the steps to joining the UFCW are simple.

How to Start a Union
Web Analytics Made Easy -
StatCounter