{"id":117,"date":"2020-07-17T17:05:55","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T17:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ufcw.test.vmgdev.com\/?post_type=industries&p=117"},"modified":"2026-08-28T08:18:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T12:18:32","slug":"retail","status":"publish","type":"industries","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/who-we-represent\/retail\/","title":{"rendered":"Retail"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UFCW is the union for retail workers.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The retail sector is a growth industry and it\u2019s essential that we turn retail jobs into good, middle-class jobs with fair scheduling practices for the sake of our communities, economy and country. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Retail companies are the largest source of private-sector employers in the economy.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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It is the third largest industry employing women behind the healthcare industry and educational institutions and the second largest industry for people of color behind the healthcare industry. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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While the retail sector continues to add jobs to the economy, many of these jobs are low-wage, part-time positions with high turnover.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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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 for full-time workers if they belong to a union. (BBNA, 2014 Union Membership and Earnings Data Book).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In addition to fighting for better wages, the UFCW is also fighting for greater control of and predictability in scheduling.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Irresponsible employers try to manipulate our hours to cut benefits, suppress workers’ access to proper income and narrow the ability of retail workers to move up the economic ladder. Workers shouldn\u2019t have to deal with this kind of insecurity on a day-to-day basis, especially when they\u2019re the ones keeping stores running and bringing in profit for their companies. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Having a union in our retail stores can help protect against inconsistent schedules, reductions to benefits, and stagnant wages. That\u2019s why retail workers at major companies like Zara, H&M<\/a>, Lush<\/a>, Ikea<\/a>, and Macy\u2019s are deciding to come together and start their unions with the help of UFCW.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Within the UFCW is the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)<\/a><\/strong>. 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.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n