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.
Workers at Moe s Books in Berkeley join the IWW union berkeleyside.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from berkeleyside.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Moe s Booksellers Unionize Mar 11, 2021
A growing unionization movement is afoot among booksellers and publishing workers across the country. On Wednesday, employees at Moe’s Books joined their ranks, announcing that they have formed a union and joined the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Twenty of the Berkeley, Calif.-based bookstore’s 21 employees have signed on. The union was immediately recognized by store owner Doris Moskowitz.
Moe Moskowitz opened the store in 1959. It has long been helmed by veteran booksellers, some of whom have worked there for four decades. But during the pandemic, bookseller Noah Ross said some booksellers departed, and newer employees were hired. When employees proposed ideas for how the store should reopen to foot traffic, Ross said their requests were not heeded by management.