{"id":64792,"date":"2026-05-27T11:07:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T15:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=64792"},"modified":"2026-05-27T11:07:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T15:07:48","slug":"historic-boycott-of-rei-concludes-after-turning-away-thousands-of-customers-across-30-states-with-nearly-500-boycott-actions","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/historic-boycott-of-rei-concludes-after-turning-away-thousands-of-customers-across-30-states-with-nearly-500-boycott-actions\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Boycott of REI Concludes After Turning Away Thousands of Customers Across 30 States with Nearly 500 Boycott Actions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Union to Continue Pushing Company For Fair Contract Ahead of July 1  Company-Wide Benefit Cuts<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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300+ Co-op Members Joined UFCW Locals, RWDSU, and County Labor Councils at Hundreds of Customer Outreach Actions Across the Country as Stores Miss Sales Targets<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Co-op Members <\/em>Camped In<\/u><\/em><\/a> at REI\u2019s Seattle Flagship Store in Support of Workers<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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REI San Diego Workers to Vote May 27 and 28 to Become Biggest Store in the REI Union<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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PHOTOS AVAILABLE HERE<\/u><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/strong> \u2013<\/strong> The REI Union<\/u><\/a><\/strong>\u2019s historic 10-day boycott of the REI Co-op\u2019s Anniversary Sale has concluded, after turning away thousands of shoppers across the country, with 70,000 customers pledging not to shop during the sale. Workers at the company\u2019s 11 unionized stores received an overwhelming show of support from REI Co-op members, who withheld their business to demand that REI end their bad faith bargaining and negotiate a fair contract.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cMy union siblings and I have stood outside REI stores from coast to coast and talked to shoppers about the union-busting we\u2019ve undergone for years,\u201d said Jeff Rosemeyer, a REI worker at the co-op\u2019s Castleton, Ind., store<\/strong>. \u201cWe asked them to stand with us and withhold their business for 10 days, and the response was overwhelming. We began this boycott to show REI that it can no longer afford to deny us a fair contract, and that\u2019s exactly what we did.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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During the boycott, workers at REI stores in Durham, N.C., went out on unfair labor practice strikes due to REI\u2019s bad-faith bargaining. Workers at REI in Cleveland and Durham rallied with local leaders during the boycott, as well. During the boycott, workers reported that their stores missed daily sales targets, which had already been lowered to account for the consumer action. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019m proud to have stood alongside REI workers during this year\u2019s Anniversary Sale and not shop,\u201d said Margo Polley, a REI Co-op member in Seattle.<\/strong> \u201cI was shocked to hear about the treatment of workers. REI is supposed to be the good guys. We are in this fight alongside the workers because REI\u2019s behavior affects us all. They deserve a fair contract, and we deserve a co-op that listens to its members \u2013 that\u2019s what being a co-op is about. REI has become a shell of its former self, but by being allies with green vests, we can restore it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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During the boycott, REI Co-op members joined workers at events across the country and volunteered to leaflet shoppers at REI. The participation of co-op members was a major part of the boycott\u2019s success, and this REI constituency will continue to be involved in the REI Union\u2019s fight for a fair contract. A REI Co-op member unfurled<\/u><\/a> a banner in support of the boycott at the climbing wall in the Seattle flagship store, while another was arrested<\/u><\/a> at the Seattle store in a sit-in protest of the company.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThese last 10 days proved co-op members\u2019 solidarity with unionized green vests,\u201d said Jacob Lish, a REI worker at the co-op\u2019s Maple Grove, Minn., store<\/strong>. \u201cWe appreciate all the support they have given us as we continue to push for a fair contract with fair pay, predictable scheduling, and strong benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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REI\u2019s enterprise-wide cuts to benefits and starting pay go into effect on July 1, while REI San Diego workers will vote in their union election on May 27 and 28. Contact <\/strong>press@ufcw.org<\/u><\/a><\/strong> to arrange interviews with REI Union workers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BACKGROUND<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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