How the REI-Union made a deal with the REI Board of Directors to stop getting involved in the 2026 election!! and left thousands members in the cold :(
The answer is posted on the REI-Union Facebook page published on December 26, reproduced below. What a shame :(
Same message posted on instagram, twitter, but not on their main site. Apparently not posted on tiktok.
abd REI-Union answer is
Yeah, shame on you. Can you give us the details of the "agreement we reached with REI in september" and you kept secret? What did you get in exchange of this betrayal of all the members who trusted you were into making the board accountable? Who were the Union reps who agreed to such a deal? Shame on you, whomever you are.
Progressive members of the Coop you have misled by leaving them in the dark now have 26 days, until February first to show the oligarchic REI board of directors they will again be defeated and then insist that the bylaws that installed this completely corrupted system be abolished.
Interestingly they posted the info on their socials but not on their website, only glorifying with the same arcane language the "in good faith bargaining". Bargaining with the devil...
As a member of the bargaining unit (and an employee at REI), I feel fine mentioning that we secured a dedicated bargaining timeline with REI, as well as the full reimbursement of annual bonuses withheld from Union stores, with the promise that both parties, UFCW and REI would not engage in any sort of campaigning against the other for the duration of said bargaining, the period of which is finishing up over the next month, and the goal of which is a contract that both parties can mutually agree to, establishing the relationship with the company that workers who have supported Unionization have pursued for anywhere from one to a few years time now.
ReplyDeleteAs an employee, I did find it off-putting that REI would change the timeline of its election without consulting of its member base, but as the bylaws allow it to be done, said changes are not within the power of any outward party to control. But I absolutely understand and agree with your frustration. And, judging from your language, I believe you have a pretty good handle on the best course of action for you to take, in order to bring about the future you wish to see.
I am happy to share my personal opinions further via e-mail or a phone call, should you desire. But as an employee who has been with the company for over 12 years, I can honestly say that I believe our Members should be primarily guiding US in our decision-making, rather than the reverse.