At the onset of the pandemic, Kalie McGuirl’s dream job working at Moe’s Books turned into one that she described as “highly stressful,” requiring regular interactions with customers who refused to follow the store’s mask policy.
McGuirl is among the Moe’s Books employees who recently decided to unionize, joining the Industrial Workers of the World. On March 9, the union was voluntarily recognized by Doris Moskowitz, the owner of the Telegraph Avenue bookstore.
On Saturday afternoon, about 100 Berkeley residents, students and Moe’s Books employees gathered at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Haste Street for a solidarity rally in celebration of the union.