REI Union Boycotts Anniversary Sale

Tiffany Montgomery for Shop Eat Surf X Outdoor:

REI union workers and allies are launching a nationwide boycott of the co-op’s Anniversary Sale that starts Friday, escalating a four-year contract dispute that remains unresolved at all 11 unionized stores.
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REI has roughly 200 stores nationwide. The 11 unionized locations represent a small fraction of that total, but the boycott’s consumer component, with 70,000 co-op members allegedly pledged to participate, extends its potential reach well beyond those individual stores.

My understanding is that REI’s business structure – that of a co-op – makes it unsuitable for an IPO or private equity takeover. Which is usually one of the key reasons why a business of this size – that’s not already publicly traded – would be anti-union. I don’t have an MBA but I would just love to see the spreadsheets laying out why a co-op that’s supposed to be “for the people” has to be anti-union. Why not just go full in on union support and continue your tradition of being different? Every American business is just always “anti-union” by defaults citing all the reasons of why it hurts the bottom line. But public sentiment has shifted so much in this country that it might just be a good PR play to actually be the ONE business that’s pro-union?

But what do I know? Happy Anniversary sale. The La Sportiva Prodigio Pros, my favorite trail running shoes, are 25% off… but don’t be a scab!