Lululemon Workers Organize in DC
ACE is the place, for labor rights.The news broke in July that the retail workforce at a Georgetown (Washington, DC) location of Lululemon were organizing a union as the Association of Concerted Educators (ACE). (The retail employees of the company are referred to as Educators).
The athletic apparel retailer is joining the club of corporations, along with Apple, REI, Trader Joe’s and more, whose employees are standing up for their labor rights and asking for a bigger voice in making a better workplace.
ACE announced their demands through the usual channels and filed a successful petition with the NLRB to call for a union vote. If the union vote to follow is successful, the workforce of 33 employees will be officially recognized as a collective bargaining unit represented by ACE.
The company responded to the organizing within their walls with neutral boilerplate. Via Bloomberg:
In an emailed statement, Lululemon said it would “respect the process” and welcomed “continued conversations” with staff.
Important to note, however, that respecting the “process” apparently does not involve Lululemon corporate leadership voluntarily recognizing the union. Hence, the necessity of a further vote. With the election date set for August 26th and 27th, the future of their labor rights is now in the hands of the Lululemon educators. Stay tuned…
Two words: “we won.”