{"id":64826,"date":"2026-05-29T11:40:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=64826"},"modified":"2026-05-29T11:40:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:40:16","slug":"san-diego-rei-workers-win-union-election-becoming-the-largest-unionized-store-in-the-country","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/san-diego-rei-workers-win-union-election-becoming-the-largest-unionized-store-in-the-country\/","title":{"rendered":"San Diego REI Workers Win Union Election\u2014 Becoming the Largest Unionized Store in the Country\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Victory comes days after historic worker-led boycott turns away thousands of REI customers across 30 states<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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SAN DIEGO, CALIF.<\/strong> \u2013 <\/strong>Today, the REI Union<\/u><\/a><\/strong> announced that workers at REI\u2019s San Diego store voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 135<\/u><\/a><\/strong>. The San Diego location is REI\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Jae Michael (they\/them), a REI worker at the co-op\u2019s San Diego store,<\/strong> said: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re so stoked to have won our union! It\u2019s 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\u2019ll have a say in the decisions that affect our jobs and our lives. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWhen we first started to organize, I knew we were joining a nationwide movement to hold REI accountable to its green vests and co-op members. I\u2019m beyond proud to be a part of the REI Union so we can achieve that mission together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Juanpablo Contreras (he\/him), a REI worker at the co-op\u2019s San Diego store,<\/strong> said: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cMyself and the dozens and dozens of my colleagues who voted to form a workers\u2019 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\u2019t paid enough for rent. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re 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\u2019t asking for much \u2013 fair pay, health and safety protections, and a return to REI\u2019s values, not just for workers, but members too.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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

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