How to build a coalition of progressive REI-Coop members?

Unfortunately, the program refuses to install the image by Folon in a small format on the side!  Rats!! Click below on red more and you'll get it :(



In May 2025 REI-Union was able to mobilize more than 100.000 progressive members of the Coop to withhold their vote and block the candidates pushed by the board of Directors, that said it was "disappointed" by this democratic rebuttal. But 5 months later, on September 24,  the Board was back in full force with a coopted corporate oriented slot, refusing to take into account the withhold campaign, basically saying FY to the 100.000 people that had refused to agree with their choice. 

Never mind this opposition, we are just going to keep doing things in our oligarchic way. The sad thing is the REI union seems to prefer to let go of the pressure built by withholding, focusing narrowly on the bargaining process. I beg to disagree with this approach and I think the progressive members of the REI-Coop can still be mobilized to withhold their votes for the 2  corporate candidates in the 2026 election that ends January 31st. I am not sure for Chuck Sams. 

There is still time to reach out to the members of the progressive community at large and invite them to massively withhold their votes as they did in 2025 and require changing the structurally undemocratic  oligarchic bylaws that prevent members voices to be taken in consideration. So let us organize, spread the withhold and push for change. 

As far as the 3 board members who were coopted in september 2005 they should resign, opening seats for democratically elected members representatives on the Board of Directors. I am convinced there are plenty of environmental and social justice  activists with significant experience we could choose from, starting, for instance with the Sierra Club? or the Mountaineers, or NRDC? How many REI-Coop members within those groups? What about the Progressive Workers Union (organized union at the Sierra Club, Greenpeace),  what about What about The Institute for Christian Socialism? The Cascade Bicycle Club? what about their partnership with REI Co-op for the Chilly Hilly on Bainbridge Island? How many cyclists are Co-op members? Where do they stand? they had their share of inside controversy in the past :)

Washington Trails Association? Where Halley Knigge (ex REI media relations) is VP Governance.

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