Local 3 Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

This month, Americans everywhere salute the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), Dr. King's legacy has special meaning. We take special pride that, in 1968, the RWDSU was the first union anywhere to negotiate a contract guaranteeing Dr. King's birthday as a paid holiday.

Dr. King saw the Civil Rights struggle and the labor movement as closely linked.  He was a constant ally of union activists and most have forgotten that Dr. King was in Tennessee to support a Living Wage for Sanitation Strikers on that terrible April day in 1968 when he was slain at the age of 39.

"Our needs are identical with Labor's needs: decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old age security, and health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children, and respect in the community. That is why negroes support Labor's demands and fight laws which curb Labor. That is why the Labor-hater and the Labor-baiter is virtually always a twin-headed creature spewing anti-negro epithets from one mouth and anti-labor propaganda from the other mouth," Dr. King said in a speech in 1961.

In reflecting on the life and work of Dr. King, the RWDSU recognizes the fight he began is not over until equality for all is a reality, and it is up to our generation of RWDSU members to complete his mission.

Local 3 Office Is Moving!

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

On July 11th, the Local 3 Union office will be relocating to the RWDSU offices at 370 7th Avenue, 14th floor. Please be aware that Union business will be interrupted from Thursday, July 11th to Friday, July 12th. We will resume normal operation on Monday, July 15th, 2024. 

Fraternally, 

Shaun Kavanagh, President

James Eisenberg, Secretary-Treasurer

TAKE ACTION: Urge Governor Hochul to Sign the Retail Worker Safety Act Into Law

Our safety has no price tag! The Retail Worker Safety Act passed the New York state legislature this session, and now Governor Hochul has the chance to enact common-sense safety protections for retail workers and the customers we serve. This urgently needed law would mandate preventative safety provisions, by requiring corporate retail employers to adopt a violence prevention plan, train workers in de-escalation and active shooters procedures, and install life-saving panic buttons throughout workplaces for those large employers meeting the threshold.

Email Governor Hochul TODAY and urge her to sign the Retail Worker Safety Act into law: https://bit.ly/RWSAFETY

Local 3 Celebrates Juneteenth

Every year on June 19, we celebrate the end of slavery here in the U.S. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last group of people enslaved in the southern U.S. were informed of their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation. Local 3 wishes all our members a Happy Juneteenth and reconfirms our commitment to fighting for racial justice on the job!

Local 3 Celebrates Pride Month

This June, RWDSU Local 3 is proud to celebrate Pride Month. In a time when LGBTQIA+ rights are under attack, we reaffirm our union’s commitment to fighting for queer rights. We take seriously the labor movement saying that “an injury to one is an injury to all.” We hope all the LGBTQIA+ members of our RWDSU Local 3 union family have a happy and safe Pride celebration this month!

Take the 2024 Contract Survey by 2/23!

Dear Local 3 Members:

The Union contract between Local 3 United Storeworkers RWDSU/UFCW and Bloomingdale's /Macy's Inc. will expire on March 1, 2024 with a sixty (60) day extension to May 1st

The leadership of the Local anticipates that these negotiations will be the most difficult in the Union's eighty seven year history. Nevertheless, we are confident that "sticking together" will enable us to negotiate a contract that meets the needs of the Membership.

As we begin to prepare for our 2024 Union contract negotiations it is important that your voices are heard at the table. We will be launching our member survey and we encourage every member to participate. The survey will be open through Fri, February 23, 2024.

In Solidarity,

Local 3 President Shaun Kavanagh and Local 3 Secretary-Treasurer Brenda Moses

Click below to take the survey in English or Spanish!

February 5 Membership Meeting

LOCAL 3 UNION MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 4:30 and 6:30PM

 ALL SAINTS CHURCH, 230 East 60th STREET (Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

AGENDA:

Report on Local 3 Activities

Local 3 2024 Membership Contract Survey

Good & Welfare

Below, please find a letter from Local 3 President Shaun Kavanagh and Local 3 Secretary-Treasurer Brenda Moses inviting members to the Feb 5 membership meeting:

Dear Local 3 Members:

The Union contract between Local 3 United Storeworkers RWDSU/UFCW and Bloomingdale's /Macy's Inc. will expire on March 1, 2024 with a sixty (60) day extension to May 1st

The leadership of the Local anticipates that these negotiations will be the most difficult in the Union's eighty seven year history. Nevertheless, we are confident that "sticking together" will enable us to negotiate a contract that meets the needs of the Membership.

It is important that you attend and participate in all Membership Meeting and any other Union Activities as planned. Membership Meetings have been scheduled to be held on Monday, February 5, 2024 at 4:30PM and 6:30PM at All Saints Church, 230 E. 60th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.

As we begin to prepare for our 2024 Union contract negotiations it is important that your voices are heard at the table. We will be launching our member survey and we encourage every member to participate.

2023 Holiday Open House Party

Local 3 United Storeworkers, RWDSU/UFCW

Welcomes You to Our Holiday Open House Party

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Which will be held at:

Bloom’s Tavern, 208 E. 58 Street (Between 3rd and 2nd Avenues NY, NY)

11:00AM – 3:00 PM

Come celebrate the Holidays with Local 3 Leadership.  Hot Dishes, Sandwiches, Salads, dessert platters Coffee/Tea and House Wine, Select Beer and Soda.

Must bring your Bloomies ID for admission

See you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!