Interview With REI Worker During May 2026 Strike

This interview was published on May 22, 2026. The union was on strike during the May 22 to 24 weekend, and urged a boycott from May 15 to 25.

Image credit: Artivista Karlin

Si-Hua: Hi, my name is Si-Hua. I'm a worker at the Durham REI. We are on strike this weekend. We are asking folks not to shop at REI, to boycott through the end of their sale. We're striking because REI has, for three years, not given us a fair contract as a union store. We're asking the company to bargain in good faith with us and to give us a fair contract.

DWA: What are some of the things you're hoping to get in a fair contract?

Si-Hua: Consistent hours, benefits, scheduling, and safety standards. We'd also like for the contract to have an arbitration clause so that the contract can actually be enforced. We'd also like for disciplinary actions to have a just cause provision to make sure that anyone who gets disciplined gets it for fair reasons and proportionate to the infraction they have committed.

DWA: Some of the customers said ‘why don't you just sue REI?’ Instead you guys are bargaining and decided to file ULPs and go on strike. What's the difference?

Si-Hua: We have had several unfair labor practice lawsuits. We filed them against REI, but that process with the National Labor Relations Board takes a long time. We also have this resource of ourselves as workers, our worker power, withholding our labor, and we think that's also a very powerful method of sending a message to the company and to the general public.

DWA: How long has this boycott been going on, and how long do you want people to sustain the boycott?

Si-Hua: We've been advocating for a boycott for the last 8 days throughout REI's biggest sale of the year. We're asking folks to continue the boycott through the end of their sale, which ends on Monday the 25^th. For my part, it's been three years since we've been asking for a fair contract. We're not asking to make millions, we just want a fair day’s pay and to be respected in our jobs. When we're paid better, when we're treated better, we can also serve our customers and members better. So everybody wins.

This interview was first published by REI Union Durham.