FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2025
Contact: Maria DiPasquale | mdipasquale@rwdsu.org | 201-396-1021
REI GREENSBORO WORKERS VOTE TO JOIN THE RETAIL, WHOLESALE AND DEPARTMENT STORE UNION
Workers Officially Form Eleventh REI Store Union, Joining About 600 Unionized REI Workers Across the Company
In Late Breaking News, Union Announces End to 52-Day Ski Shop Strike at REI SoHo in New York City Winning Air Quality Test and PPE Maintenance Training for Workers by Company
(GREENSBORO, NC & NEW YORK, NY) – Tonight, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced that workers at the REI Co-op in Greensboro, North Carolina voted to join the RWDSU, making REI Greensboro the eleventh unionized REI store in the country. REI Greensboro workers first began organizing in the wake of REI’s October 2023 round of layoffs, which cut the jobs of 275 of the most experienced workers, known as “leads,” from stores across the Co-op. In Greensboro, two of the most tenured lead retail sales specialists were laid off, beloved coworkers who were known to embody REI’s signature “Co-op Way.” Greensboro workers proudly unite with green vests organizing under the banner of the REI Union from coast to coast, fighting for fair pay, guaranteed hours, a clear path to full-time status, and transfer opportunities within the company.
“I am honored to be a part of REI #108. I voted yes to the union because it is so much more about the here and now. Throughout this process, we’ve continually come back to how we feel as though the Co-op has stepped away from its core values, especially starting from a place of respect. With joining RWDSU, I am excited for our voices to finally be heard as we are the faces of the company; customers come to us expecting in-depth knowledge and expertise. I believe that through the union, we are able to highlight that green vests deserve the same respect that we receive from customers from those that make decisions on the REI Board. This is not just a win for REI Greensboro, this is a win for everyone struggling to have their voices heard; don’t give up, keep speaking up, and fight for your voice at the table,” said Kylar Ray (He/They), Retail Sales Specialist/Visual Specialist at the REI Greensboro store.
“Our union at REI Greensboro is not just a labor movement, but a wonderful example of what happens when people who care come together to create actionable change. REI has moved away from the Co-op values, empty promises that were never truly abided by. Allowing green vests to have a say in what issues impact them personally is imperative to us continuing to outfit our members properly and utilize our expertise. I believe in a future where REI executives and store level employees can find common ground and enhance access to the outdoors for all,” said Kayleigh Clark (She/Her), Retail Sales Specialist at the REI Greensboro store.
“Welcome to the union, REI Greensboro! For the past three years, REI management has fought the REI Union at every turn. And yet, REI workers have not given up on organizing, steadfast in their commitment to creating a co-op that truly lives up to the company’s professed values. REI Greensboro won their union almost three years to the day that SoHo workers went public with their effort to form the first union at any REI store. The brave workers in Greensboro, North Carolina have made one thing clear today: the REI Union is not going away. It’s way past time to negotiate a fair contract, REI,” said Stuart Appelbaum (He/Him), President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
The vote to unionize REI Greensboro was conducted by an in-person vote in the REI Greensboro breakroom on Friday, January 24, 2025, by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The RWDSU will represent approximately 24 workers at the outdoor sports equipment company in contract negotiations, which will commence shortly. The workers in the bargaining unit include all full- and regular part-time Store Sales Specialists, Senior Sales Specialists, Senior Shipping and Receiving Specialists, Senior Operations Specialists, and Bike and Snow Shop Mechanics. The RWDSU also represents nearly 200 workers at the SoHo, New York City Flagship, the Cleveland, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois stores.
REI workers outside the REI Co-op in Greensboro, North Carolina on voting day, January 24, 2025. Photos usable by the media attributable to RWDSU can be accessed here.
In more breaking news tonight, another major win for REI workers, the union ended a 52 day strike for NYC REI SoHo ski shop workers. Since December 4, 2024, eight workers employed in the REI SoHo bike and ski shop have been out on a health and safety strike. Workers walked out after REI removed personal protective equipment (PPE) previously supplied by the company from the bike and ski shop without providing any evidence to support their assertion that the work environment is safe to perform ski work in without respirators.
After this week’s round of contract negotiations with the company, REI SoHo workers won an agreement putting them back to work, which allows workers to wear PPE again for their safety. Importantly, REI will perform air quality testing in the bike and ski shop no later than March 14, 2025 and ski shop workers will return to work on January 26, 2025. REI will also reinstate proper PPE maintenance training in what is known as the “REI SPARK” training, which covers: (a) Respirator use and limitation, (b) How to inspect, put on, remove, use and check seals, (c) Respirator selection available, (d) Maintenance, cleaning, and storage procedures, and (e) Information from the OSHA Respiratory Standard (29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.134 Appendix D) for employees who voluntarily wear a respirator.
“Worker safety should always come first. REI’s actions two months ago needlessly put workers at risk by throwing away perfectly good protective equipment. Today’s win shows that when workers stand up and take action, they can and will be heard. No amount of snow or ice will keep REI workers from standing up for what’s right, even 52 days of frigid often single digit temperatures. Our members at REI SoHo look forward to returning to work helping New Yorkers get out onto the slopes safely while protected at work,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU.)
Workers at the following REI locations are unionized by the RWDSU and UFCW: SoHo, New York; Berkeley, California; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Durham, North Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; Bellingham, Washington; Maple Grove, Minnesota; Castleton, Indiana; and Santa Cruz, California.
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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 www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU, Instagram: @rwdsustrong.
Learn more about the growing REI unionization movement here.