Employees at a Lululemon store in Washington, D.C. filed a request with the National Labor Relations Board to conduct a union election. The group wants the company to recognize union voluntarily, which is called the “Association of Concerted Educators
This outlet becomes the first Lululemon location to begin the unionization process — and the latest retail store to initiate a move. Employees say they want more collaboration, transparency and equitable pay structures.
“Our core values of personal responsibility, entrepreneurship, honesty, courage, connection, fun and inclusion led us to this decision,” the union wrote. “We show up ready to truly connect with our guests and truly create fun and memorable experience. We seek to uphold our value of inclusion in everything we do. These are the reasons we are collectively saying: Recognize our union.”
A wave of unionization efforts has been occurring in recent months. Since December, three corporate-owned Starbucks stores have unionized, with more conducting votes and expressing interest. Employees at an Amazon warehouse on New York’s Staten Island voted in April to form the first Amazon union, in May, employees at a Christiansburg, Va., Target store also filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.
Additionally, two REI stores have begun the process, and REI workers in a New York City store voted in March to make that store the first one in the United States to be organized.
“At Lululemon, our culture is built upon creating lasting relationships with one another and putting our people first,” a Lululemon spokesperson said in a statement. “We value the direct connection we have with our employees and encourage open and honest two-way communication, ongoing collaboration, and trust. We were recently notified of a petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board from a store in Washington, D.C. We respect the process, and welcome being in continued conversations with our teams.”
