Workers at a Target store in Christianburg, Virginia have applied for union elections with federal labor regulators.
NEW YORK — Workers at a Target store in Christianburg, Virginia, filed their papers for union elections with federal labor regulators on Tuesday and joined a wave of unions organizing in other retailers across the country.
The store, which employs about 100 people, says the store’s employees are not paying enough to cover basic expenses such as food and rent, worked at the Christiansburg store for five years and joined Target Workers Unite in 2019. Founder Adam Ryan said: He also pointed out that employees feel they have to do too much, from filling out orders online to unloading trucks.
“The cost of living is rising and their salaries are falling short,” said Ryan, 34, who filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. “This is causing a lot of anxiety and stress. We need more support and compensation.”
He said the complaint was triggered by veteran workers at a Christiansburg store who organized a petition for additional pay in April.
Although signatures still need to be reviewed, Ryan said he has collected more than 30 approval cards, representing about 30% of store associates, which is sufficient to meet the threshold required by the NLRB. Ryan said he hopes other stores will join, noting that Target employees are watching other companies organize their labor. The Minneapolis-based company has approximately 350,000 employees.
Target said in a statement Tuesday that it is committed to listening to its employees and fostering an environment of mutual trust.
The company said, “We want everyone on our team to have a better life to work for Target. Target cites industry-leading $15-$24 hourly wages, expanded health benefits, personalized schedules and career growth opportunities. Last fall in Christiansburg Increases in starting wages for stores and for long-term workers.
Reports from Target employees came as nearly 60 Starbucks stores across the country voted to form a union.
The new Amazon union won a victory last month at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York City, becoming the first unionized Amazon warehouse in the United States. But in subsequent elections held at a nearby facility, Amazon workers rejected union proposals.
Meanwhile, the final results of a separate union election held at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, are still in the air, along with hundreds of unresolved dodge ballots. Hearings to review the ballot are expected to begin in the coming weeks.
.