REI San Diego Store Votes to Unionize as Co-op’s Anniversary Sale Beats Expectations

Employees at REI’s San Diego store have voted to unionize, joining the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135. The 119 workers sought better staffing, wages, scheduling, and working conditions through collective bargaining. If confirmed, this location becomes the third REI in California and the 12th nationwide to unionize, and notably the largest unionized REI store in the country by revenue, ranking as REI’s third-largest store overall.

The unionization vote comes amid ongoing labor negotiations, as no REI location has yet successfully secured a contract despite four years of collective bargaining since 2022. The REI Union had previously called for a boycott of the company’s annual Anniversary Sale if a fair contract wasn’t reached by early May, citing failed negotiations over worker compensation and conditions.

Despite the labor dispute and boycott call, REI’s Anniversary Sale—the co-op’s biggest shopping event of the year—exceeded sales expectations. The sale ran for about 10 days in late May, offering major discounts on outdoor gear and apparel, with the deepest savings reserved for co-op members. The strong sales performance occurred even as the union continuedpushing for a fair contract with REI’s leadership. SESO