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Stuart Appelbaum

Stuart Appelbaum. Screenshot.
Occupation:

President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
Political Party:

Democratic Party
Residence:

New York, New York

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Stuart Appelbaum is president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). He is also an executive vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW), the parent union of RWDSU.

Appelbaum is a vice-president of the national AFL-CIO and serves on the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Executive Committee. He co-chairs the DNC’s Resolutions Committee and serves as acting chair of its Labor Council. He was a delegate to the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, and served as an alternate delegate to the 1992 Democratic National Convention. 1

He is also the president of the Jewish Labor Committee and is a board member for the Workers Defense League, ALIGN: Alliance for Greater New York, the Sidney Hillman Foundation, the Rural and Migrant Ministry, the Empire State Pride Agenda, and New York’s Utility Project. 2 3 4 5

Early Life and Career

Stuart Appelbaum did undergraduate work at Brandeis University6 and completed legal education at Harvard Law School. 7 He a member of the bar of the state of Connecticut. 8

Appelbaum is the current president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). 9 Applebaum has had a long union career: Before ascending to the presidency of RWDSU in 1998, Applebaum worked as Secretary-Treasurer, Coordinator of Special Projects, Assistant to the president, and vice-president of the RWDSU. Appelbaum was re-elected as president of the RWDSU in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. 10 He is also on the Board of Trustees of the RWDSU and Industry Benefit Funds. 11 Appelbaum received $248,030 in gross salary in 2015 but received $277,980 that year in total compensation. He consistently receives over $200,000 in total compensation every year from 2002 for his position at RWDSU. 12

He is also the current executive vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the parent union of RWDSU. Appelbaum also holds the position of senior advisor to the UFCW’s LGBT group OUTreach. 13

During his time as president of the RWDSU, Appelbaum increased the influence of RWDSU and UFCW. According to his UFCW biography, Appelbaum has pushed the unions to become “forces for economic justice and social progress,” by “forging deep alliances with the progressive movement.” 14 Appelbaum has also stated that the RWDSU will continue to “pursue political action, build coalitions, and run campaigns that advance a progressive agenda.” 15

Board Memberships and Associations

As the head of a major labor union, Applebaum holds a number of senior positions with left-wing organizations. Appelbaum is a vice-president of the national AFL-CIO and a member of its Executive Council. In this position, Appelbaum co-chairs the AFL-CIO’s International Affairs Committee. He currently serves as a vice-president of the New York State AFL-CIO and is a member of its Executive Committee. 16 Before working with RWDSU and UFCW, Appelbaum worked for the Michigan State AFL-CIO. 17

He previously served as a lawyer for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and now serves on its Executive Committee. 18 Appelbaum also co-chairs the DNC’s Resolutions Committee and serves as Acting Chair of its Labor Council. Appelbaum was a delegate to the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, and served as an alternate delegate to the 1992 Democratic National Convention. 19

He is the president of the Jewish Labor Committee and sits on the Executive Council of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. 20

Appelbaum is an officer of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), and Union Network International (UNI). He is also president of UNI Global Commerce, a vice-president of the Consortium for Worker Education, and a board member of the Latino Victory Fund. 21

He also serves on the Executive Committee to the Regional Economic Development Council for New York City after being appointed to the position by Governor Andrew Cuomo (D). He also worked as Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the State of Connecticut. 22

Appelbaum is a board member for the Workers Defense League, ALIGN: Alliance for Greater New York, the Sidney Hillman Foundation,23 Rural and Migrant Ministry,24 the Empire State Pride Agenda,25 and New York’s Utility Project. 26

 Media Appearances

Appelbaum is a contributor for the Huffington Post, Ameinu, and has published pieces for Haaretz, The Hill, Jewish Week, and Forward. 27 28 29 30 31 32

Political Activities

Due to his close associations with the Democratic Party, Appelbaum has served as a Presidential Elector on at least two occasions. In 2008, Applebaum was an elector for Barack Obama in New York, and in 2016, he was a New York elector for Hillary Clinton. 33

Appelbaum defended then-New York City Comptroller John Liu (D) in 2013 after his campaign treasurer and one of his top fund-raisers were arrested and charged with wire fraud relating to illegal donations. When news broke that federal authorities wiretapped Liu, Appelbaum called the investigation a “witch hunt.” 34 Liu’s campaign treasurer Jenny Hou and one of his fundraisers, Oliver Pan were both convicted, and Liu himself was eventually fined more than $26,000 for campaign finance violations. 35

Appelbaum and RWDSU protested the creation of a new Amazon headquarters in New York City. The union president hosted a rally in Manhattan in January 2019, calling Amazon “one of the worst employers, not just in the United States but anywhere in the world,” while also criticizing unions that supported the new headquarters. 36 Appelbaum also claimed people who supported the creation of the Amazon headquarters could no longer call themselves “‘progressive’ or ‘pro-worker’ or ‘pro-union.’”37 Amazon terminated its plans to create the headquarters, a decision which New York State Budget Director Robe Mujica says Appelbaum and RWDSU influenced. Mujica claims RWDSU “attempted to exploit Amazon’s New York entry,” by organizing workers of the Amazon subsidiary Whole Foods. According to Mujica, the union “deployed several ‘community based [SIC] organizations’ (which RWDSU funds).” 38 Amazon’s decision to terminate its plans for a new headquarters cost New York City “25,000-40,000 jobs.” 39

Appelbaum held a luncheon in July 2018, for then-Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. 40 Abrams, a former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, lost the election with 48.8% of votes to her Republican rival Brian Kemp, who received 50.2% of the votes. 41

Appelbaum was present at the “Make Amazon Pay” rally in front of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ New York City Apartment on Friday November 25, 2022, one of a series of organized demonstrations which included Amazon warehouse strikes and employee walkouts in over 40 countries. 42 Organized by more than 80 union and advocacy-based organizations, including Oxfam, 350.org and Greenpeace; the demonstrations were organized to demand that Amazon “pay fairer wages, create safer working conditions, give workers more input into policies, provide more job security, and allow workers to unionize.” 43 In addition, the strikes demanded that Amazon pay more in taxes as well as taking further action on climate change. 44 While interviewed at the New York-based strike, Appelbaum stated “No matter where Amazon operates anywhere in the world, the conditions and the existential threat are the same, and that’s why workers everywhere are standing up and demonstrating and striking today…we need to let the world know that Amazon needs to change.” 45

Awards

The Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative’s inducted Appelbaum to its Manhattan Jewish Hall of Fame in 2018. 46 He also received the 2016 Impact Award from Gay City News. 47

References

  1. “RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/president-stuart-appelbaum.
  2. “New York’s Utility Project.” Crunchbase. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/new-york-s-utility-project#section-overview.
  3. “Stuart Appelbaum.” Rural & Migrant Ministry. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://ruralmigrantministry.org/stuart-appelbaum.
  4. “Stuart Appelbaum.” Influence Watch. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/person/stuart-applebaum/.
  5. “2016 Gay City News Impact Award Honorees.” Gay City News. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.gaycitynews.nyc/stories/2016/5/w23749-2016-gay-city-news-impact-award-honorees-2016-03-07.html.
  6. “Class of 1974.” Brandeis University. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://www.brandeis.edu/magazine/2018/spring/class-notes/1974.html.
  7. “Stuart Applebaum.” The ILR School | Cornell University. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/sustainable-labor-practices-in-global-supply-chains/advisory-board/stuart-applebaum.
  8. “Stuart Applebaum.” The ILR School | Cornell University. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/sustainable-labor-practices-in-global-supply-chains/advisory-board/stuart-applebaum.
  9. “History.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/history.
  10. “Stuart Appelbaum.” Stonewall LGBTQ. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.stonewallcdc.org/stuart-appelbaum.
  11. “RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/president-stuart-appelbaum.
  12. “Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store | Stuart Appelbaum.” Union Facts. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.unionfacts.com/employee/Retail,_Wholesale,_and_Department_Store/STUART/APPELBAUM/.
  13. “Stuart Appelbaum, RWDSU – The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union.” The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://www.ufcw.org/team/stuart-appelbaum-rwdsu/.
  14. “Stuart Appelbaum, RWDSU – The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union.” The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://www.ufcw.org/team/stuart-appelbaum-rwdsu/.
  15. Tepel, Neil. “Stuart Appelbaum Re-Elected Retail Workers President – LaborPress.” LaborPress. August 11, 2014. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://laborpress.org/stuart-appelbaum-re-elected-retail-workers-president/.
  16. “RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/president-stuart-appelbaum.
  17. “Stuart Appelbaum, RWDSU – The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union.” The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://www.ufcw.org/team/stuart-appelbaum-rwdsu/.
  18. Nolan, Hamilton, and Hamilton Nolan. “”A Kick In The Ass” For Labor: A Union Leader Considers The Age Of Trump.” The Concourse. January 30, 2017. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/a-kick-in-the-ass-for-labor-a-union-leader-considers-1791650779.
  19. “RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/president-stuart-appelbaum.
  20. “RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/president-stuart-appelbaum.
  21. “RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/president-stuart-appelbaum.
  22. “RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/president-stuart-appelbaum.
  23. “Stuart Appelbaum.” Influence Watch. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/person/stuart-applebaum/.
  24. “Stuart Appelbaum.” Rural & Migrant Ministry. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://ruralmigrantministry.org/stuart-appelbaum.
  25. “2016 Gay City News Impact Award Honorees.” Gay City News. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.gaycitynews.nyc/stories/2016/5/w23749-2016-gay-city-news-impact-award-honorees-2016-03-07.html.
  26. “New York’s Utility Project.” Crunchbase. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/new-york-s-utility-project#section-overview.
  27. “Stuart Appelbaum.” The Forward. March 30, 2011. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://forward.com/author/stuart-appelbaum/.
  28. “Stuart Appelbaum.” HuffPost. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.huffpost.com/author/stuart-appelbaum.
  29. “Contributor Archives: Stuart Applebaum.” Ameinu. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.ameinu.net/author/applebaum/.
  30. Appelbaum, Stuart. “Stuart Appelbaum.” Haaretz.com. August 23, 2016. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/WRITER-1.5692795.
  31. Appelbaum, Stuart. “A 21st Century Labor Movement.” TheHill. February 04, 2016. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/labor/216344-a-21st-century-labor-movement.
  32. Appelbaum, Stuart, and Stuart Appelbaum. “Stuart Appelbaum.” Jewish Week. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/writers/stuart-appelbaum/.
  33. “RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum.” Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.rwdsu.info/president-stuart-appelbaum.
  34. Paybarah, Azi. “After Years of Wiretaps, but No Charges, a Labor Leader Defends John Liu.” POLITICO. September 13, 2012. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2012/09/after-years-of-wiretaps-but-no-charges-a-labor-leader-defends-john-liu-000000.
  35. Nahmias, Laura. “John Liu Fined $26,000 for Straw Donors.” POLITICO. July 13, 2017. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2017/07/13/john-liu-fined-26-000-for-straw-donors-113380.
  36. Goldenberg, Sally, and Rosa Goldensohn. “Labor Divided over Amazon’s Plans to Set up New Headquarters in New York City.” POLITICO. January 08, 2019. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2019/01/07/labor-divided-over-amazons-plans-to-set-up-new-headquarters-in-new-york-city-776221.
  37. Maniscalco, Joe. “RWDSU Prez: Don’t Call Yourself Pro-Union If You Turn A Blind Eye To Amazon – LaborPress.” LaborPress. December 13, 2018. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://laborpress.org/rwdsu-prez-dont-call-yourself-pro-union-if-you-turn-a-blind-eye-to-amazon/.
  38. “Open Letter From New York State Budget Director Robert Mujica Regarding Amazon.” WaybackMachine. February 22, 2019. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190223230016/https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/open-letter-new-york-state-budget-director-robert-mujica-regarding-amazon.
  39. “Open Letter From New York State Budget Director Robert Mujica Regarding Amazon.” WaybackMachine. February 22, 2019. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190223230016/https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/open-letter-new-york-state-budget-director-robert-mujica-regarding-amazon.
  40. “RWDSU Boosts Abrams In Georgia Gov Race.” NY State of Politics. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2018/07/rwdsu-boosts-abrams-in-georgia-gov-race/.
  41. “Georgia Governor Election Results.” The New York Times. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/georgia-governor.
  42. Misdary, Rosemary. “Black Friday rally outside Jess Bezos’ NYC home calls for better treatment of Amazon workers.” Gothamist, November 25, 2022. https://gothamist.com/news/black-friday-rally-outside-jeff-bezos-nyc-home-calls-for-better-treatment-of-amazon-workers
  43. Misdary, Rosemary. “Black Friday rally outside Jess Bezos’ NYC home calls for better treatment of Amazon workers.” Gothamist, November 25, 2022. https://gothamist.com/news/black-friday-rally-outside-jeff-bezos-nyc-home-calls-for-better-treatment-of-amazon-workers
  44.  Misdary, Rosemary. “Black Friday rally outside Jess Bezos’ NYC home calls for better treatment of Amazon workers.” Gothamist, November 25, 2022. https://gothamist.com/news/black-friday-rally-outside-jeff-bezos-nyc-home-calls-for-better-treatment-of-amazon-workers
  45. Misdary, Rosemary. “Black Friday rally outside Jess Bezos’ NYC home calls for better treatment of Amazon workers.” Gothamist, November 25, 2022. https://gothamist.com/news/black-friday-rally-outside-jeff-bezos-nyc-home-calls-for-better-treatment-of-amazon-workers
  46. “MJHI Manhattan Jewish Hall of Fame 2018.” MJHI. February 18, 2019. Accessed March 11, 2019. http://manhattanjewish.org/mjhi-hof/mjhi-manhattan-jewish-hall-of-fame-2018/.
  47. “2016 Gay City News Impact Award Honorees.” Gay City News. Accessed March 11, 2019. https://www.gaycitynews.nyc/stories/2016/5/w23749-2016-gay-city-news-impact-award-honorees-2016-03-07.html.
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