REI’s store in San Diego has voted to unionize, becoming its 12th and largest location to form a union.
The union will now work to secure a contract with the Seattle area-based retailer. Workers said they are seeking higher pay, better scheduling practices and other benefits.
Workers were organized under the large United Food and Commercial Workers Union, or UFCW. The Kearny Mesa store has approximate 119 workers, the largest of any unionized store.
“We’re disappointed in this result but respect our employees’ right to choose or not to choose union representation,” an REI spokesperson said in a media statement. “We remain confident in what makes REI a great place to work — meaningful work, flexibility, and a shared commitment to our co-op values — and will continue listening, learning, and showing up for our employees across the co-op.”
The union said the 28,192-square-foot San Diego store generates the third-largest revenue of any store in the chain.
Juanpablo Contreras, a sales specialist at the San Diego store, said in a statement that the cost of living in America’s Finest City was a major factor in the vote. He has worked at the store for 12 years.
He said, “Myself and the dozens and dozens of my colleagues who voted to form a workers’ 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’t paid enough for rent.
“We’re 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’t asking for much – fair pay, health and safety protections, and a return to REI’s values, not just for workers, but members too.”
REI operates 195 stores across the nation and employs around 13,000 people.
Image courtesy REI
