Washington, DC – Today, the REI Union issued a statement after REI announced that all of its unopposed, corporate-backed candidates to serve on its Board of Directors had been soundly rejected by REI members. The announcement follows a massive "Vote No" campaign where the REI Union sent over 115,000 members to the company's website to vote down the candidates, likely making it the highest turnout for an election in REI history.
Scott Ekin, Sales Specialist at REI Santa Cruz said:
"Over 115,000 of us went to the polls to make our voices heard and demand change from an REI that has failed to meet its own values and standards. To see how many people were willing to step forward fills my heart with pride in those I stand side by side with everyday in the workplace. It is my hope that this vote will stand as the foundation for change and build atop it an REI that supports its workers with fair wages, safe workspaces, and can once again take its place as a haven for the lovers of outdoors and those that would fight for them."
The REI Union said:
"This victory was only possible because REI members and REI workers stood together to send a resounding message that it is time for the co-op to return to its core values. We are optimistic that Mary Beth Laughton will take this opportunity to listen to everyone who voted for workers and members to have a voice in the company's future. Moving forward, REI should stop union busting, negotiate a fair contract with organized workers, and fill the vacancies on the board with the candidates that members backed initially."
Prior to the "Vote No" campaign, the REI Union campaigned to have environmental leaders - Tefere Gebre of Greenpeace and the AFL-CIO and Shemona Moreno of 350.org - included on the ballot. In spite of over 10,000 co-nominations by REI members, REI refused to put either on the ballot. The REI Union is calling on the Co-op to fill two of its three empty board seats with the candidates that members endorsed in the first place–Tefere and Shemona.
Tefere Gebre said:
"Even though REI kept my name off this year's ballot, today's results are what my candidacy was all about. I ran for the Board because I wanted to advocate for greater transparency and democracy. The results of today's election are a step toward making that happen. With three vacancies on the Board, I'd still be happy to serve and work toward making sure workers and members are represented fairly."
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
Since 2022, eleven REI stores have voted to unionize: SoHo, NY; Berkeley, CA, Cleveland, OH; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Durham, NC; Maple Grove, MN; Bellingham, WA; Castleton, IN; Santa Cruz, CA; and Greensboro, NC. None of the stores have reached first union contracts with REI. There are currently 35 unfair labor practice charges documenting 175 violations of labor law still pending with the NLRB.
