{"id":53968,"date":"2024-03-07T19:07:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T19:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=53968"},"modified":"2024-03-08T19:53:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T19:53:17","slug":"rei-workers-demand-bargain-in-good-faith","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/rei-workers-demand-bargain-in-good-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"REI Workers From Across The Country Demand REI HQ Management Bargain in Good Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Workers from all Nine Unionized Stores Across the Country and Their Allies Called on Management to Come to the Table Outside and Delivered a Unified List of National Demands<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON <\/strong>\u2013 Today, REI workers from across the country who have unionized with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)<\/a> and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)<\/a> hiked to REI\u2019s national headquarters in Issaquah, Washington, where they delivered their unified national platform to the company and called on management to bargain in good faith at tables outside \u2013 bringing bargaining to their literal doorstep. REI Union National Steering Committee Members from all nine unionized stores, were joined by REI co-op members, community members, and local elected officials including King County Councilmembers Girmay Zahilay and Sarah Perry and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In the days leading up to the final leg of the worker\u2019s metaphorical march across the country, workers at all nine unionized stores in Soho, New York; Berkeley, California; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Durham, North Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; Bellingham, Washington; Maple Grove, Minnesota; and Castleton, Indiana participated in hikes, bike rides, and other outdoor activities, with each activity representing a new demand in their new national platform<\/a>. These activities were widely shared on social media and in a virtual press conference yesterday which can be viewed and used by media here<\/a>, photos and videos from today\u2019s action are available for media use here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Throughout the process of trying to bargain the first contract for REI workers, the company has engaged in ongoing bad-faith bargaining practices and unilateral workplace changes that show a pattern of egregious anti-union behavior, and retaliatory actions against workers. Despite these tactics, the growing unionization movement at REI is building momentum, with the ninth REI location winning their election outright on February 9, 2024 in Castleton, Indiana.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Kaylee Ige , ( She\/They), Berkeley REI worker said: <\/strong>\u201cToday, myself and my REI coworkers from across the country stood up and said enough is enough. The workers at REI are keeping the founders\u2019 vision of a co-op rooted in progressive values alive with hard work, expertise, community service, and, yes, by forming a union. The current leadership has completely abandoned the vision of REI\u2019s founders. No matter what REI throws at us, we will keep organizing and winning elections. We traveled to REI\u2019s headquarters today to demand that REI come to the table and negotiate a fair contract that meets our essential needs and secures a better future for our coworkers, customers, and the co-op itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Madison Drinen, (They\/Them), Maple Grove REI worker,  said <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m proud to stand together with my fellow green vests from across the country today outside the co-op\u2019s headquarters to present our vision for an REI that actually provides us with guaranteed minimum hours, job security, adequate staffing levels, and paid time off that\u2019s enough to go outside. Whenever our customers go into the back country, we advise them to bring the \u2018ten essentials\u2019 needed to survive the elements, and we are calling on REI to provide us with the essentials we need to continue delivering great customer service to our co-op members.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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George Reed, (He\/Him) , REI Castleton REI worker said “<\/strong>After winning our union election less than a month ago, I\u2019m excited and energized to stand alongside my colleagues from stores across the nation to make our demands heard. REI brands itself as a co-op of like-minded outdoors enthusiasts that unites workers and customers alike to form enduring communities united by progressive values. That is exactly what this growing REI union movement is doing, ensuring that all REI workers are treated with respect. This means securing the basic scheduling, compensation, and staffing practices needed for a safe and dignified workplace.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cOur store has many employees with young kids, so fighting to not only protect parental leave but improve flexibility for parents and make REI a sustainable place to work is a huge part of the union. REI should be a place where all employees – no matter your age, family status, or life’s unexpected circumstances – can have real longevity and build a career here,\u201d said<\/strong> Jeff Rosemeyer (He\/Him), Hardgoods, REI Castleton, Indiana.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cAs an elected member of our bargaining committee, I have been incredibly frustrated and disappointed by REI’s continued refusal to actually bargain with us. They have taken all REI employees from the management side of the table and replaced them with lawyers who lack a basic understanding of how the stores and company functions. This, combined with the repeated rejections of our proposals and refusal to give counters, has stalled the process, which feels incredibly intentional. What hurts most is knowing that it does not need to be like this. Before Morgan Lewis took over, we were making real progress at the table and were able to find common ground. Our committee remains dedicated to resolving all outstanding issues and reaching a contract that reflects our contribution to the co-op. We call on REI to do the same. Come to the table and get this done,\u201d said Steve Buckley (He\/Him), Senior Sales Specialist, REI SoHo, New York. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThe essentials we are asking for as a union are simply the basic necessities to live a healthy life. We should not be expected to accept living paycheck to paycheck. I\u2019m consistently one emergency away from financial disaster. I cannot save any money. I have never been able to save money, and it costs too much to pay for housing and food and necessities to have enough to set aside. How can a company which claims such \u2018progressive\u2019 values not be ashamed to fight workers who are asking for such reasonable, essential things? Our union is strong and proud, and knows that what we are asking for is important. Several co-op and community members came to support our walkout in Chicago a few weeks ago because they also relate and recognize that workers deserve better treatment and wages. Our union has solidarity with other unions, laborers, and the community, and it helps make us a stronger force,\u201d said Margaux Lantelme (She\/Her), Frontline & Banker, REI Chicago, Illinois.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cAt our community event, members of our team shared stories about their experiences with REI\u2019s sick policy and health care plans. It\u2019s difficult for us to adequately take care of ourselves under the current conditions. So many of my peers have to come to work sick because they don\u2019t have adequate sick time and if you get enough unexcused absences you can get fired, which has happened before at our store. Being a chronically ill person myself, the system has been difficult to navigate \u2013 it\u2019s not easy to get adequate accommodations \u2013 and even when you do, they\u2019re often less than ideal. As a union, we\u2019re really fighting to make policies that actually work for the workers and allow us all the time and resources we need to take care of ourselves,\u201d said Cloud Schneider (They\/Them), Sales Lead, REI Cleveland, Ohio.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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###<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.2 million workers and their families in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, healthcare, cannabis, retail, and other essential industries. UFCW members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at\u202f<\/em>ufcw.org<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at<\/em> <\/em><\/a>www.rwdsu.org<\/em><\/a>, Facebook:<\/em>\/RWDSU.UFCW<\/em><\/a> Twitter:<\/em>@RWDSU<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Learn more about the growing REI unionization movement <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Workers from all Nine Unionized Stores Across the Country and Their Allies Called on Management to Come to the Table Outside and Delivered a Unified List of National Demands SEATTLE, WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, REI workers from across the country who have unionized with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and the Retail, Wholesale […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":426,"featured_media":53971,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[449,13],"tags":[648],"class_list":["post-53968","press_releases","type-press_releases","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-official-statements","category-press-releases","tag-rei"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nREI Workers From Across The Country Demand REI HQ Management Bargain in Good Faith - The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Today, REI workers who have unionized with UFCW\u00a0and RWDSU\u00a0hiked to REI\u2019s national headquarters and called on management to bargain in good faith.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/rei-workers-demand-bargain-in-good-faith\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"REI Workers From Across The Country Demand REI HQ Management Bargain in Good Faith - 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