News and Media

Austin, Texas (Nov. 14, 2018) – Employees at Texas’s largest independent bookstore, BookPeople, have voted for representation by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 277.

The group of 80 booksellers, event staff and inventory managers at the Austin bookstore are devoted to creating a thriving business for their community. They sought to unionize to ensure that includes a dignified living and voice in the workplace for all BookPeople employees.

“BookPeople has been part of my life since 1998,” said employee Staci Gray. “It is a magical place that has provided me with so many amazing people who are a part of my family. I want BookPeople to thrive so that these wonderful people can also make a living wage.”

To put the blue wave in context, 46,466,425 people voted for Democratic Senate candidates and 33,239,469 people voted for Republican Senate candidates, resulting in Democrats losing a net 2 seats in the senate. 

While that might not be considered a blue wave, millions of working people mobilized to vote for representatives who support their issues. Yesterday’s midterm results mean there will not be a rollback of Social Security or the elimination of safeguards for the millions of Americans with pre-existing health conditions.

With more women and people of color in history now taking their place in the House and anti-worker governors such as Scott Walker roundly voted out of office, the working people of this nation have made it clear they want leaders who reflect them and their values and who will work to protect their hard-fought rights and freedoms.

The most important midterm election in modern history is tomorrow. Are you ready to vote?

So much is at stake at the ballot box on Tuesday: the protection of workers’ rights, the future of Social Security, the expansion of healthcare coverage and so much more. It is so important that working people, union and non-union, make their way to the polls tomorrow, Nov. 6, to ensure their voices are heard loud and clear.

We cannot afford to have our rights rolled back any further, the benefits we’ve earned and paid into to be slashed or the healthcare coverage of working people with pre-existing conditions to be jeopardized. We cannot afford tax breaks for the top 1 percent while working- and middle-class taxpayers pick up the slack. We cannot afford to have anti-worker politicians representing corporations and billionaires — not working people — in the halls of government.

Visit myunionmyvote.org to find your polling place and make sure you’re prepared for Election Day tomorrow. Know how to get to the polls. Find out who your candidates are. Make your vote count. And remember to bring a friend, family member or co-worker to the polls with you!