(NEW YORK CITY) - Workers employed at the Patagonia Retail Store in Downtown Manhattan say upper management is breathing down their necks as they push to Unionize their workplace, seeking greater job security and the restoration of lost benefits.

Last month, Workers at Patagonia's SoHo location filed paperwork for a Union Election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), pursuing representation with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). 

Since announcing their intention, managers have constantly appeared in the store, resulting in an environment where Workers feel surveilled at all times, employees told The Chief.

“Since we filed, several upper management people have been in the store (as) a pretty constant presence - almost daily and in a way that they were not before we went public,” Customer Experience Guide Ben Bonnema, who has worked at the store for three years, said. “It’s a little uncomfortable feeling like they’re always around (and) I can’t speak openly.”

Beyond the day-to-day tensions, Bonnema said Workers are excited to be Unionizing and looking forward to next steps.

They’re following in the footsteps of Patagonia Workers in Reno, Nevada who voted in 2024 to join the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW), which the RWDSU is affiliated with.

Patagonia, an Outdoor Recreation Clothing Retailer, was founded in 1973 and has since grown to over 100 locations in 25 countries, including more than 35 stores in the United States.

A RWDSU Representative told The Chief voluntary recognition of the Union by Patagonia “seems like a possibility,” given the existence of the Nevada Union.

But so far, Patagonia has not recognized the new Union, nor have terms with the NLRB been finalized, the RWDSU Rep also told The Chief.

New York Patagonia Workers say they are fighting for job security and the restoration of benefits that they say are being slowly reduced and taken away - including paid time off policies, the removal of health care benefits, the cancellation of tuition reimbursement and attrition in career development opportunities.

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