(NEW YORK CITY) - The more than 100 Workers represented by Tabletop Workers United are celebrating the ratification of their first contract after a year and half of contentious negotiations with Jon Freeman and Greg May - Owners of a family of Board Game Cafes including Hex&Co - the largest Board Game Cafe Company in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Strategist and the Uncommons, making them the first to win a Tabletop Retail Union contract in New York City.

The three-year agreement includes progressive pay increases prioritizing the Workers who are currently making the least (up to a 19% increase, or a $2-plus-an-hour wage increase at all three businesses), holiday pay and paid bereavement leave, consistent scheduling, two week notice of schedules, and no scheduling of double shifts or clopens (closing/opening) without the consent of the Employee, in addition to health and safety and other important protections.

The Uncommons Employee Casey Knepley said: “Winning and ratifying the first Tabletop Workers United contract is truly incredible. I am so beyond proud of my Co-Workers and community members. Without us working together to organize and take collective action to push ownership to meet with us, none of this would have been possible. I hope our small victory for these tabletop stores can inspire people everywhere, across the country, to work together and fight for what we need and deserve during this tough political climate.”

The Employees of Hex&Co, The Brooklyn Strategist and The Uncommons, successfully Unionized their workplaces from September to December 2023, becoming Tabletop Workers United.

Contract bargaining began in February 2024.

From the start, bargaining was antagonistic and delayed, where months would pass without progress - but the Workers persisted in building their Union and their power, through educating customers, organizing rallies, marching on the boss, conducting coordinated walk-outs and picketing, up to garnering super-majority support on a Strike vote in April 2025.

A unique component of the contract campaign was the formation of the Tabletop Solidarity Committee, made up of customers.

The effort organized nearly 2,000 customers to take a boycott pledge, raised $15,000 in a Strike Hardship Fund and took in-store actions to confront ownership.

New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council News’ Editor’s Note: Read more in Jacobin and follow Tabletop Workers United on Social Media on Instagram or Bluesky!