REI workers union (including at the Bellingham store in Sehome Village, 400 36th St) are calling for a boycott during the annual Spring Sale, May 15-25. First and foremost, REI Union is asking all supporters to avoid going into any REI store for the entire two weeks of the sale. Support the workers by refusing to cross the line. REI union members and supporters will be leafletting would-be customers in front of stores. IWW will be there, too. Show up any time during the 10 days and lend a hand!
Support the REI boycott
Leafletting stores, filing complaints with the Attorney General and more — here’s how to uplift workers’ demands during the REI boycott
The union called the boycott after a vote of the union membership as well as co-op members, a response to years of union-busting and retaliation against workers. Workers are asking supporters to help raise awareness of REI’s well-documented pattern of anti-worker behavior by participating in leaflet actions outside REI stores between May 15 and May 25.
Sign-up here to leaflet outside a store, and help make sure potential customers know that REI’s stated values don’t match the company’s treatment of workers. There are multiple locations to take action in Washington beyond the flagship store in Seattle: Bellevue, Bellingham, Issaquah, Kennewick, Lynnwood, Olympia, Silverdale, Spokane, Tacoma, and Tukwila (address details on the sign-up form. OR- JUST SHOW UP!!
If you’re not able to join a leafletting action, you can still support the boycott.
Workers are also urging supporters to file complaints with their state’s Attorney General. Per REI Union, “REI claims to be a progressive Co-op that puts workers first, but for years, they’ve been union busting, retaliating against workers, and contradicting all their own public branding. Our state Attorney Generals are obligated to protect us from unfair and deceptive practices. So, if you relied on REI’s progressive branding when deciding where to buy your gear, you may have a claim.”
And for those on the hunt for some union swag, REI Union recently launched a union merch store so folks have a stylish way to support the workers.
Industrial Workers of the World Whatcom-Skagit Branch 