REI employees in its SoHo, New York City retail store, voted to form the co-op’s first union. Eighty-eight of the store’s 102 workers voted to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), and fourteen voted not to join.
An in-person tally conducted the vote in the store’s breakroom by the National Labor Relations Board.
The RWDSU will represent about 116 workers in contract negotiations beginning this year. The workers in the bargaining unit include all full- and part-time sales, technical, visual presentation, shipping and receiving specialists, as well as certified technicians, operations, sales shipping, and receiving leads.
“As members of the RWDSU, we know we will be able to harness our collective strength to advocate for a more equitable, safe and enriching work environment,” said Claire Chang, a member of the worker’s organizing committee, in a statement.
She added, “A union is necessary for many of us to achieve more stability and security in our lives, which could allow for us to explore and play more outside of work! As green vests, we believe ‘a life outdoors is a life well lived,’ and for that to be viable and accessible to us, we need to be at the bargaining table alongside REI leadership to work out a collective bargaining agreement that works for us. Hence, we’re hopeful that REI meets us in good faith during negotiations for our first contract while keeping our co-op values in mind and applying them to workers so we can all demonstrate that we really do go further…together!”
Stuart Appelbaum, the president of RWDSU, said, “We’re excited to welcome the workers of REI SoHo into the RWDSU, marking the first-ever unionized REI store in the whole country. These workers have vast expertise in their field and have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to serve the outdoor community. They have stuck together through a horrendous union-busting campaign and have come out the other side stronger. The workers of REI SoHo are ready to negotiate a strong contract that will allow them to uphold the co-op’s progressive values while providing the top-notch service REI customers have come to expect. With a seat at the table, workers can make working at REI safe and sustainable for years to come.”
REI said in a statement, “REI firmly believes that the decision of whether or not to be represented by a union is an important one, and we respect each employee’s right to choose or refuse union representation. We are, at our core, cooperative. Our employees are the heart of the co-op community, and their expertise, enthusiasm and joy in helping people get outside make us who we are. We greatly appreciate their hard work and dedication through what continues to be a remarkably challenging time in the world.”
Photo courtesy BoF
