Episode 84: Stuart Appelbaum of RWDSU: Organizing Farmworkers and Amazon Employees

The Checkout speaks with labor leader Stuart Appelbaum about unionizing farmworkers, the impact of the Bessemer Amazon union campaign and why organized labor is key to real progress.

https://www.rwdsu.info/leadership

Stuart Appelbaum became President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union on May 1, 1998.  He was reelected in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. 

He also currently serves as an Executive Vice-President of the 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. 

Appelbaum previously served as International Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-President, Executive Board Member, Assistant to the President and Coordinator of Special Projects for the RWDSU.

Appelbaum is a Vice-President of the national AFL-CIO and a member of the federation’s Executive Council, where he co-chairs the federation’s International Affairs Committee.  He also currently serves as a vice president of the New York State AFL-CIO, and a member of its Executive Committee.

He serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store International Union and Industry Benefit Funds.

Appelbaum is the President of the Jewish Labor Committee; and he is a member of the Executive Council of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.  He is also a board member of the Latino Victory Fund.

He is an officer of two global union federations:  IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations) and UNI (Union Network International). Appelbaum is President of UNI Global Commerce (representing 160 unions and 4 million workers worldwide).

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Episode #84 Notes

1:00 - An overview of RWDSU and background.

2:30 - On the political economy of farm work in the United States, and the lack of laws to protect farm workers.

6:20 - On The Fair Labor for Farm Workers Act.

8:00 - What is the upside of farm workers having a union contract?

11:00 - What is the future of farm work in New York? Do you see resistance from farm and land owners as farm workers organize?

12:30 - How can folks support this work?

17:50 - Overview of the Amazon labor organizing campaign.

32:00 - Closing thoughts.