A participant held up a sign she made that equates two hours of work to the price of one pencil case.
On Thursday, August 28 at 1 pm, a crowd of about 50 gathered outside Utrecht’s 13th St location to participate in a rally. The crowd was mainly composed of members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, and some Utrecht, along with Retail Action Project and employees at Utrecht who supported the rally. Utrecht employees approached RWDSU last fall and voted to join the union in March of 2014. The art supply store was recently purchased by Blick, though it is still called Utrecht. The union has been working towards a contract that would ensure better wages, regularly scheduled raises, and sustainable scheduling.
Stephanie Basile, an organizer with the union, pumped up the crowd at the beginning of the rally.
The rally alternated between marching in circles while chanting, and pausing to listen as some participants gave speeches.
According to union organizer Stephanie Basile, Utrecht employees voted to unionize in March and negotiations have been in the works with Utrecht. Workers want better wages and scheduling protection.
The rally was also attended by activists from Retail Action Project, an organization of retail workers that works to improve workplace standards within the retail industry. According to its website, “RAP supports retail workers’ path towards career security and advancement through job training, services and professional networking.”
One participant urges the company “build a better Blick.”
Rally participants marched in a circle chanting:”1,2,3,4 We won’t take it anymore! 5,6,7,8 C’mon Utrecht, negotiate!”
This rally participant showed off a pallet-shaped poster with signatures of people in support of a new contract at Utrecht and Blick.
A participant held up a sign she made that equates two hours of work to the price of one pencil case.
The rally participants marched down the street before repeatedly forming a circle outside of Utrecht.
Utrecht sales associate Paloma Zapata, who also spoke at the event, joined the company in February.
A Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union organizer collected signatures from people in support of a new contract and better wages.
Charlotte is majoring in Journalism + Design at Eugene Lang College and graduated high school in Bamberg, Germany. Her father is a soldier so she grew up moving around a lot. Outside of her interest in journalism, she is an aspiring novelist & screenplay writer who dabbles in acting. Charlotte loves reading, writing, road trips, red wine, videogames, music, sketch comedy and tennis.
Charlotte is majoring in Journalism + Design at Eugene Lang College and graduated high school in Bamberg, Germany. Her father is a soldier so she grew up moving around a lot. Outside of her interest in journalism, she is an aspiring novelist & screenplay writer who dabbles in acting. Charlotte loves reading, writing, road trips, red wine, videogames, music, sketch comedy and tennis.
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Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other sites?
I have a blog based upon on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would value your work.
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