Pledge to Vote NO in
REI’s Board Election
REI’s Board is out of control. It’s time
for members to take a stand.
REI’s Board of Directors is abandoning its founding principles, and Co-op members are uniting to stop them. Can you sign our petition and pledge to vote NO in the upcoming Board election on March 3?
We need to take action together NOW, before REI continues this pattern of abuse including:
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The endorsement of Trump’s anti-environment pick for Secretary of the interior.
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Serious labor rights violations - including debt bondage and discrimination - in the factories that make REI branded apparel and bicycles.
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Elimination of its ‘Experiences’ division and layoffs of 400 REI workers.
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Putting workers health & safety at risk by removing respirators from ski/snow shops around the country.
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Continued fight against our growing union movement and the voices of members and workers nationwide with illegal union busting tactics.
Please ADD YOUR NAME TO OUR PETITION and tell REI you’ll reject their Board candidates if they DON’T include our nominees on the ballot next month!
Why This Matters:
REI’s Race to the Bottom:
Over the past few years, REI has been eroding all of the values and culture that make our Co-op special. Not only has the company dedicated tremendous time and energy to silencing the voices of its workers, they’ve also endorsed Donald Trump’s anti-environment pick for Department of the Interior — all while partnering with companies who take advantage of the workers around the world producing REI gear. And this is just the beginning.
REI’s Path from Cooperative to Corporatism
REI is also REFUSING to give members and workers a say in the future of the Co-op. Despite thousands of our members demanding that REI put our pro-worker and pro-climate activists on the ballot for this year’s Board election, the company refuses to tell us whether they’re moving forward with Tefere Gebre or Shemona Moreno as a candidate!
Instead of nominating Tefere and Shemona, we expect REI will continue to put forth even more corporate nominees who don’t share our values. Current REI board members have worked at ExxonMobil, Starbucks, and have backgrounds as corporate lawyers and venture capitalists. Meanwhile, REI bans its own workers from running for the board.
A Deep Dive into REI’s Downward Trajectory
We’re asking you to vote NO in the upcoming Board election to hold REI accountable for all their recent behavior. Read on to learn more about all the ways REI is losing sight of itself, failing its members and workers, and jeopardizing its founding principles.
REI endorses Trump’s pick for Secretary of the Interior
REI’s leadership recently endorsed Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of the Interior. Since joining Trump’s cabinet, Burgum has already pushed for:
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More oil and gas drilling on public land.
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A reversal of “harmful” and “coercive” Biden-era climate protections.
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Reduced accountability for mining companies that harm wildlife.
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A revision of public land protections, which could change the boundaries of our national monuments.
This endorsement is shocking, but it’s unfortunately in-line with REI’s trend of abandoning the values that make our Co-op special. Read more about Doug Burgum’s anti-environment priorities here.
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REI eliminates its Experiences division and lays off over 400 workers
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REI kicked off 2025 by closing its ‘Experiences’ division, which included guided trips and outdoor classes. This closure also resulted in the layoffs of over 400 people. The Experiences program was an invaluable offering that helped people get outside safely and foster a lifelong love for the outdoors.
Workers and members alike were deeply frustrated by this decision, as Experiences was a core program that helped set REI apart from other outdoor retailers. Instead, REI is continuing to prioritize short-term gains over its original mission. Read more about the closure of REI experiences here.
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University researchers reveal serious violations in REI’s supply chain
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Last December, the UMass Amherst Labor Center and the student activist group ‘Students for International Labor Solidarity’ released a report that documented egregious violations of labor rights across REI’s global supply chain. According to the report, people who make REI’s Co-op branded apparel are often subject to debt bondage, sub-poverty wages, and discrimination at the factories where they work.
These violations are incredibly concerning, and we’ve demanded REI take immediate action to address these issues. Read more about REI’s supply chain violations here.
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REI removes key protective gear from NYC store
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Workers from the Ski Shop at REI SoHo went on strike for 54 days after the company suddenly decided to take away respirators from shop workers around the country. REI had offered these respirators for years, so workers could stay safe while melting wax and working with hazardous chemicals in their shop, which is located in the store’s basement.
REI should never have taken away this protective equipment, and it’s a shame that workers had to go on strike for 54 days before the company finally reached an agreement with them. Read more about the SoHo Ski shop strikes here.
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REI hires Morgan Lewis, an anti-worker, anti-union law firm
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In the Spring of 2023, REI hired Morgan Lewis to represent them in negotiations with our union stores. Morgan Lewis is the country’s most notorious anti-union law firm: they’ve worked with Trump, Amazon, and Elon Musk’s SpaceX to curb union activity. They are currently working with Musk to undermine the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board.
Once REI hired Morgan Lewis, our bargaining sessions slowed to a crawl. REI stopped sending company representatives to bargaining sessions, which means workers no longer had the opportunity to negotiate with anyone who actually works at the Co-op. Read more about REI’s involvement with Morgan Lewis here.​
Board Election FAQ
When does REI’s Board election kick off?
This year’s Board of Directors election period will begin on March 3rd! Members will have most of March and all of April to vote. The election wraps up on May 1st.
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How do I vote?
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In early March, REI will send out a link to your email that goes to their online voting platform. You can also vote by clicking this link after March 3: https://vote.escvote.com/REI
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Who is eligible to vote? How do I determine whether I’m an active member?
All “active members” will be eligible to vote in this year’s Board election. To be considered an active member, you must have spent at least $10 on merchandise at REI in 2024, or joined the Co-op as a new member.
What will I put on my ballot? How do I reject REI’s candidates?
For each candidate, the ballot will give you an option to vote “For” them or “Withhold” your vote against them. You can reject REI’s candidates by voting “Withhold.” By doing so, you’ll signal to REI that you’re ready to see a change on the board away from corporate leadership. It’s time for REI to get back to its roots.
How do I find my member number / check my member status?
You can check your REI member number and status here. On this page, you’ll be able to sign into your REI account, confirm your member number, and then use your member info to go cast your vote.
What happens if the REI membership rejects REI’s board candidates?
According to REI’s bylaws, “any nominee who does not receive a greater number of “for” than “withhold” votes will not be elected, and the REI Board seat for which the nominee was nominated will be considered vacant.”​​​