On May 28, the REI Union announced that workers at REI’s San Diego store voted overwhelmingly to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 135. The San Diego location is REI’s third-largest in the country by revenue, and the 12th and largest REI store in the country to unionize with the UFCW/RWDSU for fair pay, sustainable scheduling practices, and better working conditions. This victory comes days after a historic worker-led boycott turned away thousands of REI customers across 30 states.
“We’re so stoked to have won our union! It’s been a long road, but we all want to make REI the best version of itself that it can be, and that is what brought us to this moment. We are the ones stewarding the values of this co-op every single day, especially when we cannot rely on executive leadership to do the same. With our union, we’ll have a say in the decisions that affect our jobs and our lives.”
“When we first started to organize, I knew we were joining a nationwide movement to hold REI accountable to its greenvests and co-op members. I’m beyond proud to be a part of the REI Union so we can achieve that mission together,” said San Diego REI worker Jae Michael.
Also at the location, worker Juanpablo Contreras added, “Myself and the dozens and dozens of my colleagues who voted to form a workers’ union are doing so out of concern for a store and a company we believed in. Our decision was done out of love and concern for our friends and colleagues living out of their cars because they aren’t paid enough for rent.
“We’re also unionizing because REI has continued to take more and more away from its members by cutting member benefits, rights, products, and services, all while increasing CEO pay. We aren’t asking for much – fair pay, health and safety protections, and a return to REI’s values, not just for workers, but members too.”
This organizing win follows successful unionization efforts at REI stores 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., which are represented by represented by the UFCW Locals 5, 135, 663, 700, 1208, 1445, 3000, and the RWDSU.