Lululemon Athletica, Inc. employees working at one of its Washington, D.C. stores has petitioned to unionize, extending a wave of organizing at previously union-free U.S. retail firms.
On July 20, 2022, Employees at the store filed for a unionization election with the National Labor Relations Board. The proposed bargaining unit would cover 33 employees, according to the employee’s new labor organization filing, which it calls the “Association of Concerted Educators.”
Among other employee demands at the store, it calls for more pay transparency and “equitable pay structures.”
“Our core values of personal responsibility, entrepreneurship, honesty, courage, connection, fun, and inclusion led us to this decision,” the group wrote Thursday, July 21, 2022, in a post on its Twitter page.
Lululemon said in a prepared statement that the company values the “direct connection” it has with its employees and encourages “open and honest two-way communication, ongoing collaboration and trust.”
A spokesperson said the athletic apparel maker was notified of the petition and would “respect the process and welcome being in continued conversations with our teams.”
“At Lululemon, our culture is built upon creating lasting relationships with one another and putting our people first,” the spokesperson said.
The union campaign Lululemon comes amidst a surge of employees seeking to unionize at other major retailers, including Starbucks, REI, Apple, and Trader Joe’s.
Photo courtesy Lululemon, Washington, DC
