The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced Thursday that, by an overwhelming majority vote of nearly 84 percent, workers at REI, Inc. in Chicago, IL, voted to join the organization making this the fourth unionized REI store in the country.
“I am beyond excited at the results of the vote to officially make REI Chicago a union store. I have never been more proud to work for REI and am inspired by the passion and courage of my fellow green vests who have taken part in any of this. I look forward to shifting focus towards the next steps of bargaining with REI to help our team see more consistent hours and schedules to allow us to better plan our personal lives as well as hold REI accountable for the many promises and initiatives they have failed to uphold over the years,” said Andrew Loveland, member of the REI Chicago organizing committee and retail specialist at REI.
“This win for us is a win for all REI employees, and I’m so proud and full of love for our store’s whole team. This is a win for the people whom REI has unfairly fired, denied transfers and promotions to, denied the opportunity to flourish in the proper department and so many other grievances. We, the workers of REI Chicago in the neighborhood of Lincoln Park, all deserve to be paid a living wage with consistent, predictable hours for the expert advice we provide to the community and have a say in the day-to-day running of our store. We want the co-op to be successful, and we want to truly share in that success,” said Sarah Diefenbach, an REI Chicago Organizing Committee member, and visual sales lead at REI.
“Today, REI Workers have sent a message to working people everywhere, and especially to REI workers around the nation, you can come together and organize so that your voice will be heard and must be taken seriously by your employer. Today, you have won your legal right to a real seat at the table with your employer. United with other REI workers who are organizing into unions around the country, we will have the strength to negotiate a strong contract. RWDSU is proud to welcome you into our union family,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of RWDSU.
The vote to unionize REI Chicago was by an in-person secret ballot vote on-site at the store on May 4, overseen by the Chicago office of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The RWDSU represents approximately 60 workers at the outdoor sports equipment company in contract negotiations, which will commence this year. The store currently operates at its full capacity, potentially increasing that number.
The workers in the proposed bargaining unit include all non-supervisory employees at the store, including all full- and part-time sales employees, technical and visual presentation specialists, shipping and receiving employees, certified technicians and mechanics, operations leads, sales leads, and shipping and receiving leads.
