Retail, Wholesale & Department Store International Union (RWDSU)

Retail, Wholesale & Department Store International Union (RWDSU)

The Retail, Wholesale & Department Store International Union (RWDSU) traces its roots to the early 20th century union movement, operating as a semi-autonomous division of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) since 1979. Stuart Appelbaum, president since 1998, also chairs the board of trustees for the RWDSU Benefit Funds and holds leadership roles in the AFL-CIO and UNI Global Union. The RWDSU deploys capital through buyout-focused private equity investments, as well as direct real estate holdings. Its pension fund maintains offices in Birmingham, Alabama, and New York City, with properties including the RWDSU Headquarters Condominium at 370 7th Avenue in Manhattan. The fund's asset allocation mix includes private equity, real estate, and infrastructure, though specific holdings are not publicly disclosed. The pension and health funds serve roughly 100,000 active and retired members across the US and Canada. Appelbaum also serves on the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee and on the board of the Latino Victory Fund. In 2023, the union led high-profile organizing efforts at Amazon facilities in Alabama and New York, though these actions are separate from its investment activities. The pension fund's investment operations are structurally distinct from the union's political and organizing arms. The RWDSU maintains separate philanthropic entities, including the Alvin E. Heaps Scholarship Fund and Local 338 Charities, funded independently from the pension trust.