The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) has reported that employees working at the REI Co-op in Greensboro, NC, voted to join the RWDSU, making REI Greensboro the eleventh unionized REI store in nationwide.
RWDSU said in a statement that REI Greensboro workers first began organizing following the co-op’s October 2023 layoffs, which cut 275 jobs of “the most experienced workers,” known as “leads” or “green vests” from stores across the U.S. Two of the most tenured lead retail sales employees in its Greensboro store were among those whom the retailer laid off.
“I am honored to be a part of REI #108. I voted Yes to the union because it is so much more about the here and now,” said Kylar Ray, retail sales specialist/visual specialist, REI Greensboro. “Throughout this process, we’ve continually come back to how we feel as though the co-op has stepped away from its core values, especially starting from a place of respect.”…