REI Fails to Reach Agreement with Union After Months of Negotiations

One Year After New CEO takes Charge, Co-op Continues to Union Bust

SEATTLE, WASH. - Today, the REI Union held a press conference in Seattle, Wash., pulling back the curtain on contract negotiations with the REI Co-op over the past six months. As part of their multi-yearslong anti-union campaign and despite reaching 25 tentative agreements, REI made the decision to illegally declare impasse, walk away from negotiations, and unilaterally implement wage cuts for REI union workers.

During negotiations, REI announced deep cuts to workers' benefits packages, a key marker of bad-faith bargaining.

REI Union workers were joined by co-op members (shoppers) and elected officials who condemned the co-op's actions.

Leadership from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union and the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union (RWDSU) released statements condemning the Co-op's vehemently anti-union actions.

Email [email protected] to speak with an REI Union worker spokesperson.

BACKGROUND

• In July 2025, REI and the union agreed to establish a national bargaining structure to reach collective bargaining agreements for the 11 unionized REI stores. As part of the agreement, REI provided wage increases and bonuses for the years 2022-2024 that REI previously withheld from workers at represented stores.

• After months of negotiations, REI Union workers voted on a comprehensive offer from REI on February 4, 2026. The offer was rejected by a nearly unanimous vote. Per the national bargaining structure, both parties resumed negotiations later in the month. At the end of those negotiations, REI declared an impasse, while the union disputed the co-op's position by filing claims with an arbitrator.

• As negotiations were taking place, REI unilaterally changed the bylaws of its board to allow the co-op to appoint unelected directors for a period of three years whereas previously directors had to be elected by co-op membership. This was a clear attempt to stifle the voices of co-op members and stakeholders.

• Since 2022, 11 REI stores have voted to unionize: SoHo, N.Y., Berkeley, Calif., Cleveland, Ohio, Chicago, Ill., Boston, Mass., Durham, N.C., Maple Grove, Minn., Bellingham, Wash., Castleton, Ind., Santa Cruz, Calif., and Greensboro, N.C.

• REI union members are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 5, 663, 700, 1208, 1445, 3000, and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Locals 379 and 1102.

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REI Union members are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Learn more about the growing REI unionization movement here.

The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.2 million workers and their families in retail, grocery, meatpacking, food processing, healthcare, cannabis, and other essential industries. UFCW members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU.