On May 15, workers and customers, led by the REI Union, began its historic boycott of the REI Co-op’s Anniversary Sale, which takes place through May 25, following recent negotiations that ended April 30.
New details from the bargaining table in Chicago reveal the extent of REI’s bad faith bargaining. REI failed to offer a single proposal until the final day of bargaining, and failed to send its own Vice President of Labor Relations, or any key decisionmaker, to the table. REI’s outlandish, bad faith proposals included:
- Moratorium on the REI Union’s organizing activity: The REI Union could not support workers at other REI stores hoping to unionize for the duration of the contract.
- Non-disparagement agreement: This would prevent REI Union members from speaking up about working conditions or anything that could be perceived as negative about the co-op, effectively silencing them.
- Mandatory $1 million annual donation: Each year, the REI Union would be required to give an outsized donation to REI’s charitable organization of choice.
- Six-year contract term: This is double the length of previous contract terms that had been discussed.
Since 2022, 11 REI stores have voted to unionize in SoHo, N.Y.; Berkeley, Calif.; Cleveland, Ohio.; Chicago, Ill.; Boston, Mass.; Durham, N.C.; Maple Grove, Minn.; Bellingham, Wash.; Castleton, Ind.; Santa Cruz, Calif.; and Greensboro, N.C.; with a 12th store recently filing to unionize. REI Union members are represented by UFCW Locals 5, 663, 700, 1208, 1445, 3000, and the RWDSU.
“My co-workers and I have spent the last four years showing up at the bargaining table for a fair contract, while REI has spent that time attempting to defeat us at every turn,” said Alex Pollitt, a REI worker at the co-op’s Bellingham store and bargaining committee member. “We’re calling for a nationwide boycott of REI’s Anniversary Sale because REI still refuses to take negotiations seriously and has left us with no other way to make our voices heard.”
“Our singular goal for the past four years has been to negotiate in good faith with REI and agree on a contract that upholds the values and legacy of this co-op,” Pollitt added. “We have continued to reach out after bargaining ended last month. REI has the ability to pick up the phone and get serious.”
“For the last four years, REI workers have been committed to reaching an agreement with the co-op, only to be met with ludicrous proposals like bans on speaking out against the company and organizing additional stores,” said Jacob Lish, a REI worker at the co-op’s Maple Grove store. “We are asking REI customers to make their voices heard and show support for the REI Union over the next 10 days. Since REI won’t listen to us workers at the bargaining table, we think they’ll hear us loud and clear with the support of thousands of REI members and shoppers. REI cannot afford to ignore all of us.”
“REI would rather spend thousands on Morgan Lewis’ anti-union lawyers to defeat our union than offer a fair contract,” said Ashley Hamilton, a REI worker at the co-op’s Greensboro store. “Our shoppers know that REI is losing its soul, and with their support in this boycott, we can start to repair the co-op. Rather than hear us out, the company has tried to silence workers and members, leaving us with no other choice but to boycott A-Sale.”
“I have been a member of REI for 25 years, and I stand with the REI Union,” said Evan Sutton, a REI Co-op member in Seattle. “Co-op members are tired of the company ignoring its own workers, and our calls for fairness have been ignored by a supposedly ‘democratic’ business. I was planning to resupply during the Anniversary Sale, but instead I’m boycotting in solidarity with the REI Union.”
“Co-op members shop at REI because they believe their values align with those of the company. When REI fails to uphold those values, shoppers have the power to hold them accountable by withholding their business,” said Justina Roberts, a REI worker at the co-op’s Cleveland store. “All REI has to do to put an end to this boycott is come back to the table and offer a fair agreement. It is really that simple.”
To educate shoppers about the boycott and the workplace issues REI workers are facing, local and regional staff throughout the country will be in front of the stores during the sale to help get the word out about the boycott.
All UFCW locals are encouraged to support this boycott. A Social Media Toolkit is available here. Additional information about the REI Union and how to support the boycott are available here. You can read the press release here.