Not a Wicked Good Time: Warehouse Workers Stand Up to Newbury Comics’ Retaliatory Union Busting in Boston

Boston, MA — Just weeks before its warehouse employees vote on joining the United Auto Workers (UAW), Newbury Comics has escalated its union busting campaign by holding captive audience meetings and firing a longtime employee who supported unionizing.

Earlier this month, over 75% of the 51 workers in the retailer’s Brighton warehouse filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking to unionize with UAW. On January 9, workers will officially vote on joining UAW Local 1596, which represents thousands of warehouse, manufacturing, and service workers in eastern Massachusetts, including at bookstores and movie theaters.

When Newbury Comics learned that its workers were organizing, management began bringing in outsiders to hold anti-union “captive audience meetings,” attempting to intimidate employees from exercising their right to join a union. In November, the NLRB ruled that these meetings are an illegal abuse of employer power.

In addition, Chris LaBove, a union supporter and leader who has worked at Newbury Comics since 2009, was abruptly fired the Friday before Thanksgiving. UAW filed an unfair labor practice charge against Newbury Comics’ president John Brusger at the NLRB on the grounds that the firing was illegal retaliation against the union organizing effort.

“My coworkers and I are asking for fair pay, more sick time, and a more stable work environment, since many of us are forced out when our hours are cut in the spring and summer,” said LaBove. “Instead of giving us a voice in our own working conditions, Newbury Comics fired me for speaking up.”

“All workers have the right to unionize without fear of retaliation,” CJ Barber, Vice President of UAW Local 1596, said. “Boston is a union town, and the bosses at Newbury Comics won’t get away with firing a long-time worker for organizing.”

The workers at Newbury Comics are joining workers across the country who are standing up with the UAW to fight back against corporate greed. Earlier this year, the UAW similarly filed unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB against Donald Trump and Elon Musk for their illegal attempts to threaten and intimidate workers who stand up for themselves by engaging in protected concerted activity. 

The warehouse workers are asking customers and other community members to stand with them and tell Newbury Comics to stop union busting and reinstate their coworker. For the latest updates, follow the Newbury Comics Warehouse Union on Instagram at @nc.wh.union.