Boycott Update
BOYCOTT UPDATE by Luis Vazquez
FOCUS: Borders Books
Note: AGENDA continues to bring attention to corporate scofflaws who don't deserve a cent of your hard-earned dough and show you ways you can help out.
About three months before she was fired from the Borders Books in Philadelphia, two significant events occurred in the worklife of bookseller Miriam Fried. First, Fried received a glowing evaluation from her manager at the Borders bookstore in Philadelphia who wrote that Fried "provides a fine model for other booksellers with her work ethic and her book knowledge." At the same time, Fried was helping to lead a union organizing drive at the store and wore a button to work signifying her support of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). It is obviously the second significant event that many union activists and others feel led to Miriam Fried's firing. Fried has filed an unfair labor practice petition with the National Labor Relations Board.
Because of Miriam Fried's firing and other anti-union practices, Borders Books has come under the scrutiny of many labor groups and others interested in democratic work environments. Borders pays its booksellers $5.50-6.25 per hour to start, depending on store location. Borders booksellers receive paltry pay increases -- even with years of experience, booksellers make less than $7 per hour. On the other hand, in 1994, Borders' three top executives received compensation packages ranging from $247,420 to $861,639, and held stock worth more than $22 million (not including long-term stock options). From July 1995 to July 1996, Borders, Inc. reported a sales increase of 10.7% for existing Borders stores, compared with a national economy growing at less than 3%. Borders is the nation's second largest bookseller, with annual retail sales of around $1.5 billion.
When Michael Moore, author of "Downsize This!" and host of the popular Television program "TV Nation" appeared at the Philadelphia Borders during a recent book-signing and promotional tour, he invited IWW pickets into the store with him. Moore also urged customers to buy their books elsewhere. Borders promptly cancelled Moore's invitation to speak at their grand opening at the World Trade Center in New York City.
Union organizing efforts continue at other Borders stores. In Chicago, the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) celebrated a victory when booksellers there voted for UFCW representation in November. Borders spent two months trying to convince Chicago store workers that union influence would conflict with "Borders' culture." Organizing drives are also reportedly taking place in Des Moines, Iowa and Albany, New York. In Philadelphia, workers have vowed to rekindle their organizing drive, despite the IWW's narrow defeat and Miriam Fried's firing. More attention is now being focused on Borders' union-busting activities such as the hiring of a notorious union-busting law firm, and flying their executives around to "hot spots" to dissuade Borders workers from joining unions.
In Ann Arbor (Borders' headquarters) and in many other communities around the country, labor activists are calling attention to Borders' union-busting tactics and low wages. The recently formed Southeast Michigan Local of the National Writers Union (NWUUAW Local 1981) is taking a stand in solidarity with the IWW by organizing and assisting with leafletting and informational picketing during the weekend of Dec. 14 and 15,(the six-month anniversary of Miriam Fried's firing).
Ann Arbor, a virtual mecca when it comes to bookstores, is fortunate to have so many good new and used bookstores to choose as alternatives. It would be a powerful statement if Borders, which got its start right here in Treetown, were to do poorly during the upcoming holiday season.
What you can do:
Shop at stores other than Borders and its sibling stores -- Waldenbooks, Planet Music, and Brentano's Books -- until Miriam Fried is reinstated. Call, fax, or write the Philadelphia store at 1727 Walnut St., Phila., PA 19103 and/or David Stewart, General Manager tel:(215) 568-7400; fax:(215) 568-7466. Contact Borders' corporate HQ at 311 Maynard St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 and/or Richard Flanagan, President tel: (800) 644-7733 or (313) 913-1100. E-Mail Borders Spokesperson Peter Blackshear at: PBLACKSH@borders.com. Join the IWW and the Southeast Michigan Local of the National Writers Union on Sat., Dec. 14 from 11am - 1pm, or Sun., Dec. 15. from 1-3pm, for leafletting and info national picketing in front of the Borders bookstore on Liberty Street in Ann Arbor. Call or write the IWW: Industrial Workers of the World, 103 West Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti, MI 48 1 97, tel: (313) 483-3548; email: iww@igc.apc.org
Luis Vazquez is interim co-chair of the Southeast Michigan Local of the National Writers Union.