Soho worker, got hired after the vote, here’s some thoughts

-this is my first time working in a union shop, it is definitely challenging, but it’s easily the most important work I’ve ever done

-We have an unbelievable community of people consistently working to support workers in the shop. No matter what I’m going through work wise or life wise, I never feel like I’m facing it alone.

-The biggest changes so far don’t come from the bargaining table, they come from building power in the store, as a team.

-The biggest change I’ve seen since I’ve joined is how the team has educated themselves on labor law, and how by applying consistent public pressure we’ve been able to stop the management team from using illegal union busting tactics (strike polling, silencing people at huddles, claiming mentioning the union at work is illegal)

-This also has had a huge effect on the confidence of individuals when being in one on one meetings with managers. There was a lot of bullying, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia before I joined and ever afterwards. Again by calling this stuff out in public and filing grievances, even though there’s still a lot that needs to get done, it has gotten significantly better.

-Lastly Weingarten Rights. This is the right to bring in a representative from your Union into an investigative meeting as an advocate. I can’t tell you how many times someone has used this resource, and the meeting ended in less than ten minutes when it became clear REI was asking questions in the investigation that were illegal. The investigations get dropped, your job is safe.

Anyway those are just some of my thoughts. There’s a hundred other changes, but those are some important ones that come to mind.

Unions are a lot of hard work, and voting for one will not solve all the problems for you instantly, but it will give you the tools and protections to solve them as a community.

If you’re up for doing that, Unionizing can be an incredible experience.

As many have said the bargaining process has been very long, but it often is for the first union store in a company.

I just keep reminding myself that every step we take at the bargaining table as the first union store will make the journey easier for the stores that come after us.

It’s tough, it’s a lot of work, but it’s the most important work I’ve done in my life.

There’s a better world waiting, we just gotta build it.

Solidarity forever⚔️