Strand Booksellers Walk Out, Demanding Higher Pay in Busy Holiday Season
In a move that echoes the calls for fair wages across many industries, over 100 unionized workers at the iconic Strand Bookstore walked off the job Saturday. The strike, unfolding in the heart of New York City’s bustling holiday shopping season, highlights a growing tension between the beloved bookstore and its employees, who are demanding a living wage.
“Far From Enough for Workers in the City”
The Strand, famed for its sprawling “18 miles of books”, is currently facing a picket line outside its flagship store near Union Square. Union representatives say their membership, which includes workers at the Strand’s Upper West Side location and its Brooklyn warehouse, voted to authorize the strike after weeks of stalled contract negotiations.
“That’s far from enough for workers in the city,” said Aaron Eisenberg, political director of the regional chapter of United Auto Workers, which represents the Strand’s employees. “Our workers at the Strand will continue to be on strike until the owners come back to the table with a real offer.”
The crux of the dispute boils down to wages. The union is pushing for a $2 raise per hour in the first year of their new contract, followed by $1.50 increases each year for the following two years. Currently, the Strand’s base pay of $16 per hour aligns with New York City’s minimum wage, a figure the union argues is insufficient to live on in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Management, on the other hand, has reportedly countered with offers that are 50 cents less per hour for each of those years.
A Historic Bookstore Facing Modern Challenges
The Strand, owned by Nancy Bass Wyden, wife of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, is a New York institution. Its vast collection of over 2.5 million books, spread across four levels and covering every imaginable genre, has drawn book lovers from all over the globe for nearly a century. But the bookstore, like many others, has faced formidable challenges in recent years.
The pandemic forced the Strand to temporarily lay off its entire workforce, underscoring the vulnerable position many businesses faced during that period. Labor disagreements have resurfaced since then, demonstrating the ongoing struggle to balance the needs of employees with the realities of running an independent bookstore in a rapidly changing retail landscape.
Stalemate and Negotiations: A Battle for a Fair Living Wage
Both sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on Monday, but the divide over wages remains significant. Shop steward and bookseller Brian Bermeo summed up the frustration of many employees.
“I really genuinely do like working there,” Bermeo said. “There’s a lot of problems that come from upper management down that just make the habit of working at the Strand stressful.”
As the holiday season kicks into high gear, the Strand’s future hangs in the balance. A resolution to this labor dispute could set a precedent for similar struggles at other independent bookstores across the country, casting a spotlight on the essential role of fair wages in protecting both workers’ livelihoods and the cultural institutions they help sustain.
How does this strike impact the customers of the Strand bookstore, and what are the employee’s primary concerns and demands in their negotiations?
## Strand Workers Hit the Picket Line
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re discussing the ongoing strike at the iconic Strand Bookstore here in New York City. With me is Aaron Eisenberg, political director of the regional chapter of the United Auto Workers, the union representing Strand employees. Aaron, thanks for joining us.
**Eisenberg:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** So, let’s get right to it. Over 100 Strand workers are currently on strike. What led to this action, especially during what’s usually a busy holiday season for bookstores?
**Eisenberg:** As you mentioned, this strike is happening at a crucial time for the bookstore, but the reality is our workers have been struggling for a long time. The Strand’s base pay is currently $16 an hour, which is the New York City minimum wage. While we appreciate the Strand’s support of its workers, that wage is simply not enough to live on in this incredibly expensive city. [[1](https://www.yahoo.com/news/union-workers-manhattans-strand-bookstore-052900835.html)]
**Host:** That’s a point many people are making across different industries these days. The cost of living is rising while wages aren’t keeping pace. What specifically are the union’s demands in these negotiations?
**Eisenberg:** We’re asking for a living wage that reflects the hard work our members put in every day. We’re proposing a $2 raise in the first year of the new contract, followed by $1.50 increases for the following two years. This would help our members afford basic necessities like rent, food, and transportation.
**Host:** The Strand is a beloved bookstore, a New York City institution. How do you think this strike will impact the bookstore and its customers?
**Eisenberg:** We understand that this strike may cause some inconvenience for customers, but we believe that supporting fair wages for workers is crucial. The Strand’s employees are passionate about books and serving the community. However, we can’t continue to make a living wage sacrifice while the bookstore thrives. We’re hopeful that the owners will come back to the table with a real offer that reflects the value of our work and allows us to live in this city we love.
**Host:** We certainly hope for a swift and fair resolution for both sides. Aaron Eisenberg, thank you for sharing your perspective.
