For the past six months, unionized REI workers have been under an agreement to avoid publicly disparaging the company as the two parties try to hammer out a first contract for the outdoor retailer’s 11 unionized stores.
Negotiations hit a wall in February. When the agreement to stay silent ended Wednesday, the union workers had a lot to say.
“REI has not been the wholesome, friendly co-op they market themselves as,” said Alex Pollitt, a worker at the unionized REI store in Bellingham. “At the table, they ripped off their mask and showed us who they are.”…