Outdoor gear retailer REI is under scrutiny as employees from eight of its unionized stores, located in New York, California, Chicago, Boston, and others, filed a total of 80 complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The accusations range from alleged retaliation against pro-union workers to unilateral restructuring of jobs and alterations in working conditions without union consultation. The complaints also highlight claims of stalling bargaining processes with unions that successfully won elections at these stores.
REI, based in Sumner, Washington, responded to the allegations, asserting that it disagrees with the claims and is actively engaged in good-faith bargaining with the stores that have opted for union representation. The company, known as Recreational Equipment, operates approximately 180 stores with 15,000 employees nationwide. It emphasizes that recent changes in job titles and schedules were unrelated to union organizing.
The labor disputes at REI are part of a broader national trend in labor organizing, which gained momentum during the Covid-19 pandemic. The wave of unionization has impacted various sectors, including Starbucks baristas, Amazon warehouse workers, video game makers, and Apple retail staff.
The unionized REI stores fall under the representation of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Recent walkouts by employees in Chicago, Boston, and Minnesota underscore growing tensions, protesting layoffs and changes to working conditions.
Employees, expressing concern over alleged infringements on their rights, argue that the company has not acknowledged their collective voice and right to form a union. The NLRB will investigate these complaints before determining whether to proceed with formal cases against REI.
By Reuters
