Blog

The REI Union announced a boycott of the outdoor retailer’s Anniversary Sale, set to take place May 15 through 25, after contract negotiations concluded without a fair contract offer. Workers at the 11 unionized REI stores are taking this critical step with the backing of 70,000 REI Co-op members who have already pledged not to shop during the annual event if the company continued to bargain in bad faith.

“REI has refused to offer us a fair contract, despite our willingness to compromise, and instead has insisted on provisions that would prevent more workers from joining the REI Union and that would ban us from speaking out. Their anti-union stance is deeply incompatible with the values REI claims to profess. The company has left us no choice but to boycott,” said Alex Pollitt, a REI worker at the co-op’s Bellingham, Wash., store.

Jeff Rosemeyer, a REI worker at the co-op’s Castleton, Ind., store added, “Co-op members need to know that REI isn’t just anti-union – the co-op is accelerating its use of AI, pushing high-interest-rate store credit cards on shoppers, and cozying up to the Trump administration. “All we want is a fair contract so we can be a part of putting REI back on the right path. I work here because of my love for the outdoors, but that love doesn’t pay the bills. Since the company won’t listen to us at the bargaining table, boycotting the Anniversary Sale is the only way to make them hear our demands.”

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.

The REI Union has a broad coalition of support for the boycott, which is unsurprising given the overwhelming solidarity displayed by members over the last several years, especially during the “Vote No” board campaign last year. After two union-backed candidates were prohibited candidacy in REI’s 2025 Board of Directors elections, the REI Union sent over 115,000 members to the company’s website to vote down the candidates.

In July 2025, REI and the union agreed to establish a national bargaining structure to reach collective bargaining agreements for the 11 unionized REI stores. As part of the agreement, REI provided wage increases and bonuses for the years 2022-2025 that the company previously withheld from workers at represented stores.

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.

Read the press release.

Hear from the workers.

UFCW Locals 663 and 1189 are continuing to protect immigrant members in Minnesota from ICE raids and other forms of intimidation.

UFCW Local 663 has been working to help the family of UFCW Local 663 grocery member, Ivan, after he and his son were detained by ICE agents. Ivan was sent to a facility in Texas, while his son, who is also a member of UFCW Local 663, was released. UFCW Local 663 coordinated with the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation’s Working Partnerships rapid‑response fund to help the son provide for his family while his father was away. Ivan was recently released from custody. 

UFCW Local 1189, whose workers live in the area where Renee Good was killed, is also working to protect members by making sure they know their rights. According to UFCW Local 1189 President Adam Evenstad, ICE agents continue to have a significant presence in the area, and are following and taking photos of community members.

“Just because you’re not seeing violent conflict does not mean there is not a significant impact on the members and the communities,” said Evenstad.

Both locals have provided members with “Know Your Rights” preparedness packets that were hand delivered to stores with resources that included emergency contacts, a list of necessary documents to have on hand, and free legal resources from trusted community partners. The locals also set up rapid response lines and a system of what to do if members are detained, including habeas petitions, character witnesses and notaries that would come to members’ houses. 

“This is what it means to be a union, this solidarity,” said UFCW Local 663 President Rena Wong. “It should be the core of who we are– that none of us are alone.”

UFCW Local 663 and 1189 are encouraging other locals to support our immigrant members in Minnesota through these organizations: Working Partnerships and Monarca MN.

A video about Ivan and his family’s ordeal after he was sent to a Texas detention facility is available here.

You can access Local 663 and 1189’s “Know Your Rights” preparedness packet here.