Update: The Union was Recognized! Noble Knight Games employees Unionize.

[Blue Orange]

Are they going to change their name to Noble Peasants? Noble Veche?

(suggestions from people with deeper knowledge of the Middle Ages welcome)

 

[billd91]

Not necessarily.

Grocery store workers in the majority of the US are not unionized (they are in California I believe), but that doesn't necessarily reflect bad working conditions (at least in relation to the US). [Yes, I realize NK is NOT a grocer, this is an example of retail work in the US]

IT CAN reflect what their target employees are in some cases (younger individuals or those looking for additional income in some places, others have varying pay depending on the position with some positions specfically focused for some of those types of employees with the expectations those positions will not really buy the healthcare or other items).

Some of it may be part time work where the default is expected that one can schedule times to not work if they wish and don't have to go in as much so the company feels they don't need the days off like a full-time worker.

With that said, most grocery stores probably would also flat out refuse to recognize a union in the United States, especially if they feel that union is trying to demand things that are not useful to the business (for example, trying to force the above part time workers to be given 2 weeks vacation fully paid, getting a healthcare plan that is affordable for those part time workers to afford on part time pay, and paying filler positions high wages).
<snip>

You might be surprised. There are, apparently, something like 2.8 million grocery workers in the US. The UFCW represents about 800,000 of them. So there are quite a few grocery stores who have been recognizing unions. And while there may be quite a few workers in those positions (and other retail positions) part time, don't underestimate the number of people who work there full time. There should be no assumption that it's a side job. The time the employee spends there should be fairly compensated, full time or part, with appropriate benefits.

If unions have a black eye or low numbers in the US, it's mainly because of efforts to bust them and massive campaigns to undermine their value and the robustness of the economy is paying for it and will pay heavily for it in coming decades.

 

[Aeson]

Does this mean they've thrown off the shackles of the ruling class and seized the means of production?

 

[Erik Alt]

So, Noble Knight is going belly up within a year. Sad to hear it, actually bought stuff from them.

 

[darjr]

So, Noble Knight is going belly up within a year. Sad to hear it, actually bought stuff from them.

Wait? What?

 

[billd91]

 

[Erik Alt]

Having your workforce get difficult in a business with razor-thin margins means you go bankrupt.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Does this mean they've thrown off the shackles of the ruling class and seized the means of production?

Let's hope they do.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Having your workforce get difficult in a business with razor-thin margins means you go bankrupt.

Grocery stores typically have profit margins of 1-3%. Organic & natural food groceries hit about 4-6% profit margins.

The Guide to Grocery Store Profit Margins (and How To Improve Them)

Looking for a guide to grocery store profit margins? Look no further! We’ll show you what a good profit margin is, and how to improve yours.

www.posnation.com

In comparison, game retailers have profit margins between 5-8% on average.
A Behind the Scenes Look at the Profit Margin of Your Local Game Store | Dice Tower News

 

[GreyLord]

You might be surprised. There are, apparently, something like 2.8 million grocery workers in the US. The UFCW represents about 800,000 of them. So there are quite a few grocery stores who have been recognizing unions. And while there may be quite a few workers in those positions (and other retail positions) part time, don't underestimate the number of people who work there full time. There should be no assumption that it's a side job. The time the employee spends there should be fairly compensated, full time or part, with appropriate benefits.

If unions have a black eye or low numbers in the US, it's mainly because of efforts to bust them and massive campaigns to undermine their value and the robustness of the economy is paying for it and will pay heavily for it in coming decades.

If I understand it right...

That's actually between the US and Canada. Canada has easier access to Unions and have 436,000 grocery workers in Canada.

Add in another 383,000 (almost 384,000 in California) and it's not hard to get to 800,000 between the two.

Most of the Grocery worker Unions are not found in most of the other states, though many of the UCFW union workers are NOT grocery workers (800K is the grocers, but you also have meat packers, and others. One example of a strike of other UCFW members would be Colorado for example which dealt with a marijuana, others with factories, warehouses and plants in Kentucky and elsewhere) and ARE found in many locations. They (the grocer arm) have limited representation in some more liberal areas of the US such as the North East.

Efforts to enforce or attain unionizations in many other areas of the US from grocers have failed. Some of it with dirty underhanded tactics where the Unions in theory would win, but due to filing bankruptcy and dissolution to reform anew killed the planned strikes.

Most of the attempts outside of California have met with similar oppositions among grocery stores to make it so the unions are either not recognized or minimized in their power and ability. At least from what I've seen in the US (which admittedly may not be the full picture).