Park Slope Barnes & Noble Workers Vote To Unionize

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Workers at Park Slope's Barnes & Noble voted to unionize — a move that marks the third recent win for union drives in the chain's New York City-area stores.

The vote Thursday ended with 88 percent of workers in favor of joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, according to a release by the union.

The vote came after workers' complaints about harassment, pay lower than independent booksellers, favoritism, among other concerns, union officials said. Those issues will come up in contract negotiations, they said.

"I hope B&N is listening to us today and will work with us as we begin negotiations," said Sydul Akhanji, a bookseller at the store, in a statement.

Barnes & Noble store workers in Union Square and at Rutgers University have voted to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union during the past month.

Union officials said they expect contract negotiation for the Park Slope store will unfold this year.