Greenvests Unite: REI Boston Employees Vote To Unionize

BOSTON, MA — Workers at the REI Co-op's Landmark Center location in Boston have voted to unionize, becoming the fifth location to do so across the country.

Workers announced this week that a unionization vote passed by a mark of 44-23. Union formation efforts will now be done through United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445.

"Thank you to everybody in our community and across the REI Union for your words of support as we fought to make this union a reality," the union said in a statement announcing the move.

Others in Boston have responded to the news positively, including Mayor Michelle Wu.

"When we organize, we win. Congratulations to @REIUnionBoston," Wu said on Twitter.

Workers at the Boston location released a statement in April citing compensation as part of the reason for the formation of the union, in addition to workplace power dynamic issues.

"REI has unilaterally handed down decisions that negatively impact our well-being and financial stability and deepened the imbalance of power between workers, store management, and headquarters," the statement read.

"We want a say in decisions that affect our livelihoods, and contractually protected benefits to give us the peace of mind needed for a sustainable work-life balance."

Works also cited a cut in hours after the implementation of the Way Forward pay raise.

The Boston REI store, which has 80 people on staff, is the fifth nationally to work toward unionization, joining stores in Berkeley, Cleveland, Chicago and New York City.

REI has other locations in Massachusetts including Cambridge, Framingham, Hingham and Reading, but none have announced unionization efforts.