Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Half Price Books Staff Ratifies First Contract; Secure rievance Procedure, Increased Sick Days and Fair Raises

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) members at a Half Price Books storefront in Kansas City, Missouri, have secured their first collective bargaining agreement—the first location in the state to do so.

Staff first joined Half Price Books Workers United back in November 2023, motivated in part by the termination of a co-worker who was recovering from cancer. They won the election unanimously and became the 11th store nationwide to organize for a better workplace. The new contract establishes major victories like a grievance procedure, increased sick days and fair raises.

Four-year staff member William Theberge said of the contract victory: “It is a seat at the table, making sure we can hold the company as mutually accountable as they claim we can. A lot of that is making sure we’re holding them to their own mission statement and standard of treatment of their employees.”