WHY RWDSU?
For 80 years, the RWDSU has fought for the rights of working people. We are proud that we are never afraid to use our voices to call for change and social justice. Members of our union marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the South during the early days of the civil rights movement, and were on hand at - and involved in planning - the historic 1963 March on Washington. And, we take special pride that in 1968 the RWDSU was the first union anywhere to negotiate a contract guaranteeing Dr. King's birthday as a paid holiday. Today, we proudly march with Black Lives Matter in demanding racial justice in our communities realizing that as a union racial justice and economic justice cannot and should not be separated.
The 21st century has seen working people face a new host of challenges from robots and technology undermining working people to new forms of management surveilling work speeds and our every move. The RWDSU has been there fighting for action and negotiating strong contracts that shift the balance of power from management to our members on the shop floor.
Why RWDSU? Hear from current members why they joined the RWDSU.
The RWDSU is committed to meeting the challenges of the 21st century head on. We can do it by building upon the solidarity that created the labor movement by building coalitions with community organizations, communities of faith, and our local neighborhood leaders. When we stand together, we can fight back against global corporations and anti-worker managers. We do it because we continue to believe that people are more important that corporate profits, and that all working people can build better lives when they have the power of a union behind them.
The RWDSU has organized tens of thousands of workers including some significant wins in notable industries. In New York City, RWDSU took on Amazon head-on when they were trying to bring their corporate headquarters into town while also violating workers rights in their Staten Island, New York warehouse. In the south, RWDSU organizers have helped thousands of poultry workers win protections and improvements in what is traditionally dangerous and underpaid work.
Organizing for collective power in the south to uplift workers’ voices during this challenging time is a priority for the RWDSU, and we welcome Amazon workers to find their voices and become part of the RWDSU.