R.U.H.F. (REI UNION HARDSHIP FUND) – SHOP STRIKE

Would you work in a place that forced you to inhale the toxic fumes of melting plastic without ANY protective gear? Probably not. Definitely not if you were barely making a living wage.

 

RIGHT NOW, REI is demanding that workers in the REI SoHo ski shop perform ski tunes, involving melting plastics and resins, while refusing to provide workers any respirators or protective personal equipment. In fact, REI took away the respirators that technicians had used for years to perform this work, without providing any evidence that the subway-level ski shop is safe to work in.

 

Amidst an already lengthy and unmerciful contract bargaining process with REI, the shop technicians were explicitly threatened with termination after refusing to perform ski tunes for their own health and safety. As a result, the shop is on ULP STRIKE! 

 

Shop technicians are withholding their labor and calling on REI SoHo management to fulfill the following demands:

~ Return all respirators

~ Get an industrial hygienist to inspect the ski shop

~ Provide referenced reports that the ski shop is well-ventilated and safe enough to work in

~ Ensure that PPE be properly managed and maintained

~ Negotiate with us over this policy change

YOU CAN HELP!

While on ULP strike, the technicians are not earning any of their standard wages. A donation of ANY amount would help cover food, rent, bills, or any other necessary expenses while they wait for REI to respond to their demands.

 

For $5, you are helping to buy a lunch or dinner

For $10, you are helping with groceries

For $25, you are helping with a utility bill

For $50, you are helping with a phone bill

For $150, you are helping to cover one Shop employee for one of the ULP strike days

 

If you can't donate:

~SHARE THIS LINK! Get the word out about what is really going on in the sub-basement of REI SoHo!

~FOLLOW US on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook: @reiunionsoho

~FOLLOW US on tiktok @rei_union

~Take action at bit.ly/skishopsafety – filling out the form will send an email to our managers uplifting the ski shop’s five health and safety demands.

 

Customers in SoHo, NY can support us:

~Don’t cross the picket line!

~Speak with management about how you will not tolerate these unsafe conditions for the shop technicians.

This is not a solicitation from RWDSU, UFCW or its affiliated local unions. All monies donated go directly to the workers, not to RWDSU, UFCW or any affiliated local union

 

Thank you.