ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Unionized REI workers say they are "bringing the bargaining tables to the company" on Thursday by hiking out to the chain's headquarters to demand progress on contract negotiations.
The first of nine stores to unionize across the company has been bargaining with REI for two years, leaving eight other stores, including one in Bellingham, waiting for their turn to negotiate contracts with the company.
Union members allege that progress has stalled and workers at unionized stores are now actually earning less than non-unionized employees due to the delay. In that time, REI changed its legal representation, leading the company to restart bargaining with the first unionized store from the beginning.
Among their demands, staff are looking for better staffing at their stores.
"(We want) the right amount of staff that is also knowledgeable, skilled, experienced and comfortable to operate effectively and safely within the stores," said Tini Alexander, an employee at the company's Bellingham location.
In a statement to KING 5, the company said "REI is committed to and will always negotiate in good faith with our stores that have chosen union representation."
Members of each unionized store's steering committee plan to arrive at the company's headquarters at 1 p.m. on Thursday to demand that company leaders come outside and bargain with them in good faith. Union members allege that decision-makers with REI have been absent from negotiations.
In addition to unionized REI members, King County councilmembers Girmay Zahilay and Sarah Perry are planning to join the hike.