New York, NY – Workers employed at the Patagonia Store in SoHo have voted to join RWDSU.
The vote marks a historic milestone for employees of the Outdoor Apparel Giant, as they become the first Unionized Patagonia location in the Eastern United States.
The victory comes as Workers at the store seek to address a growing disconnect between the company’s public values and the daily realities of its Retail Staff.
In their push to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
workers have cited a desire to regain lost benefits, including the restoration of previous Paid Time Off (PTO) policies and health care coverage that had been rolled back.
Workers also organized to secure guaranteed professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement, benefits that were once a staple of the Patagonia experience – but have recently been eliminated.
In unionizing, workers at Patagonia’s SoHo store are fighting to ensure their jobs are as sustainable and respected as the products they sell.
“We voted ‘Union Yes’ because we believe in Patagonia’s mission, but a mission is only as strong as the people who carry it out every day on the floor,” said Morgan Skelton, a Customer Experience Guide at the SoHo Patagonia store. “We’ve secured our seat at the table to ensure our expertise is respected and our livelihoods are protected. We aren’t just selling gear – We’re providing a better experience for customers while building a sustainable future for Retail Workers in our industry.”
RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum said: “The Workers at Patagonia SoHo have proven that even at a company with a ‘progressive’ reputation, a Union contract is the only way to guarantee a ‘voice on the job.’ These Workers are part of a powerful movement of Retail Workers across New York City and the Outdoor Industry who are refusing to let their benefits and workplace culture be stripped away.”
Patagonia SoHo joins a growing wave of Unionized Retail Workers in New York City who are represented by the RWDSU, including workers at REI, Barnes & Noble, McNally Jackson and Goods for the Study. They also join their Colleagues at the Patagonia Store in Reno, Nevada, which Unionized in 2024.
