Back Market workers unionize ahead of holiday season

On Nov. 24, workers at the Al Gore-backed technology refurbisher and seller Back Market announced their union, Back Market United, ahead of the e-commerce company’s busiest week of the year. 

“E-commerce businesses typically don’t unionize, so this is impressive for them to do especially ahead of Black Friday which is their busiest time of year,” says Scott Williams, lead organizer of Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 153 that represents Back Market United workers. 

Founded in 2014 in Paris, the company emerged in the U.S. market with its first office in New York City in 2018. Back Market has raised over $1 billion from investors including Goldman Sachs and environmental advocate Al Gore’s firm Generation Investment Management. 

“As a union, we will build a stronger, more sustainable organization for all staff, the mission we serve, and partners we work with,” reads the union’s letter to management. 

Similar to companies like Etsy, which has a non-profit advocacy group for sellers, and eBay, which has received pushback for hampering unionizing efforts, Back Market would be one of the first e-commerce corporations to unionize in the states. Kickstarter, the online fundraising e-commerce platform, also represented by OPEIU Local 153, went on strike back in September.

Unlike here in the U.S., European workers are protected by the European Works Council, a government mandated union that is required for employees that work for companies that employ a minimum of 1,000 workers in the European Union, in addition to countries in the European Economic Area.

“Our European team has been encouraging Back Market leadership to do the right thing, encouraging workers to support us,” says John LaMere, an advanced seller and account manager at Back Market New York City. “The solidarity has been used as a way to get more people involved. Seeing our European counterparts lift up our voices and use their privilege despite them already having good working conditions has been really heartening.” 

LaMere started in an entry-level position at Back Market in February 2022, but was terminated in November of that year following company-wide mass layoffs. He returned in January 2024. 

“The culture is just really great and the right to repair is really important,” says LaMere. “Trying to do more with what we already have is necessary and it's rare in tech to find a place that aligns with your values like that.” 

'Overwhelmingly positive'

LaMere and his colleague Steven Rich, a seller and support advisor at Back Market stand behind the company’s mission to limit technological monopolies and curb unsustainable production behind the ethos of “the right to repair,” along with “fuck new,” an internal slogan. 

“It used to be external but they found that it didn’t land too well with the American mindset,” says Rich.

“We don’t need more new technology, we have more than enough already, our goal is to work with what we already have,” adds LaMere. 

Both colleagues say that although Back Market’s mission, values and work culture are great, they hope that voluntary recognition of the union will motivate the company to ensure workers are protected against unfair terminations, longer hours, that there's increased transparency and that company salaries meet the increasing cost of living in New York City. 

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” says LaMere upon announcing the union. “Several managers as high up as directors of the company have reached out to say how much they supported our efforts and we’re hoping that a voluntary recognition will happen.” 

The union hopes to hear of that recognition by December 1st, ahead of the busy holiday season.

“The timing of everything was a happy accident,” says Rich. “This time of year highlights the sacrifices that US employees make every year.” 

75 percent signed on

Marine Libaud, a public relations specialist at Back Market, said in a statement that the company is "committed to social dialogue at the company level."

"It's clear that the employees who have filed for union recognition care deeply about the mission, success, and values of our company,” she said. “We are carefully considering their request and will respond within the time frame they have requested.” 

Back Market United has so far gotten around 75 percent of eligible employees out of the around 60 in its U.S. office - those who are non-managerial and non-confidential employees - to sign onto the unionizing effort, and hope to gain more. 

“Back Market has always led the way for pushing for societal change and environmental regulation. Generally it's who we are, we’ve always been told that Back Market is a company that does the right thing,” says LaMere.