FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026
Contact: Cedar Humphrey, cedarh@ufcw663.org
Apple Valley, MN – Today, workers from Half Price Books in Apple Valley announced to their employer that they are forming a Union and demanded Union recognition. Workers filed with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663. They are fighting to secure higher wages, better staffing, and job protections.
“I’d like higher wages and more staff, so we have the time to make our store a welcoming space where we can help customers without fear of falling behind,” said Izzy Andrus, bookseller at Half Price Books Apple Valley.
Apple Valley will join a growing nationwide movement of unionized Half Price Books workers at nine other locations nationwide, including four others in Minnesota.
“I’m choosing to unionize because I think that we as employees deserve to have our voices heard when it comes to our working conditions. We know our store’s needs more than policy-makers based in Texas,” said Kyle Riper, bookseller at Half Price Books Apple Valley.
Half Price Books, a Dallas, Texas based private company, has 4 unionized locations in Minnesota. The St. Louis Park, Coon Rapids, St. Paul, and Roseville locations announced their Union in 2021, won their elections in 2022, and ratified their first contract in 2024.
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UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in healthcare, grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries. Our members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.