Since 1927, looming on the corner of Broadway and E 12th St, The Strand has been in the business of selling books. They have been made famous for boasting their 18 miles of bookshelves, spanning four stories. Across two stores, two kiosks, and one pop shop, The Strand employs over 200 employees. But now, Nancy Wyden, current owner of The Strand, is facing her employees walking out in a strike.
Making a Statement
As of 10:00 a.m. EST, Saturday morning, December 7th, the employees of The Strand marched on the sidewalks outside of the building, beginning a strike that has been in the works since August. For Wyden, this couldn’t be a worse time, as Christmas quickly approaches and it’s peak shopping time for retail sellers. But to make a statement, this is absolutely the most impactful time.
The Demands
So what is on the line for these picketers? Union workers of the Strand have been in heated negotiations since August, demanding a fair living wage, as the cost of living in New York City does not match their current salary. As Andrew Stando, a shop steward and UAW member, states:
“It’s becoming impossible to live in New York on what The Strand pays. We’re just asking for enough to make rent every month.”
Only a few days into the strike, protesters are in full swing. Coverage can be viewed on TikTok. In one video posted by Alex Peter, picketers were hoisting signs reading:
“Who stocks these 18 miles? Not Nancy! We do!!!”
“Strand is 100 years old and so are its wages.”
“The only way Strand survives is if we survive.”
The UAW
So what is the UAW? UAW is also known as The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America and it’s an organization that has been around for almost a century. It is currently one of the largest unions in North America, included in almost every sector of the economy. Spanning 600 local unions, 400,000 workers are considered active members.
You may ask yourself: How can I show solidarity for The Strand workers? The protesters are asking customers not to cross the picket line. To show support, research independent bookstores that treat their workers fairly. Moreover, if you are not in the NYC area, you can email Nancy Wyden at nancy@strandbooks.com to demand fair workers rights!
To read up on some bookish news, check out What You Need To Know about the Goodreads vs. StoryGraph Debate!
Need some book suggestions? Check out our shelf Banned Books: Because We Stand With the Well Informed!
