As retailer REI’s troubles with employees continue, consumers back off

Once known as the beacon of corporate America, REI is now embroiled in face-offs with employees, putting off consumers. Banking on REI’s reputation as a progressive company, Chang says she hoped they would operate in good faith on union negotiations, but that hasn’t been her experience. In an investor release, the company said that “in 2022, REI put an additional $50 million toward pay raises for hourly employees and delivered another $92 million toward employee retirement and bonuses”. On the company’s “cyberweek sale” Instagram post, he wrote, “I’d rather not spend any money at REI, ever, than to support a company that’s actively union busting.” Brinlee Jr has more than 36,000 followers. “I think if REI supported what their employees wanted, operated in good faith negotiations and stopped union busting, I would reconsider my opinion,” Bartolo told Al Jazeera.