REI, the outdoor retail co-op known for its progressive employment practices, has seen its workers initiating unionization efforts, leading to a conflict with the company’s management.

Unionization at REI: REI found itself clashing with its employees as they began to unionize, sparked by health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by furloughs and job cuts.
* The flagship store in New York’s SoHo neighborhood became REI’s first union shop in March 2022, in a landslide vote of 88 to 14.
* Since then, seven more stores across the U.S. have unionized, with a ninth vote still too close to call.

Allegations and Denial: Pro-union workers accuse REI of breaking labor laws — threatening and intimidating workers, disciplining and firing organizers — an accusation that REI denies.
* More than a dozen claims of unfair labor practices against REI are being reviewed by the National Labor Relations Board.

The Employer’s Standpoint: REI argues that dealing with a union would slow down the company’s ability to address concerns rapidly, suggesting that their employees, who enjoy industry-leading wages and benefits, do not need a union.
* After the first union win in SoHo, the retailer raised wages nationwide, but some workers claim their assigned hours were cut.

From Workers’ Perspective: Workers are pushing for guaranteed minimum hours and financial stability, along with a living wage and grievance and arbitration procedures.
* According to employees, their inconsistent work schedules often fluctuate, ranging from as many as 24 hours one week to as few as four the next.

Impact on REI’s Reputation: These events pose a threat to REI’s cultivated image as a progressive employer, drawing parallels to other companies like Trader Joe’s and Starbucks that have spent decades building a similarly generous image.
* Despite the recent unionization efforts and the resulting conflict, many workers still express a desire to stay with the company and work towards improvement.

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