Workers at the REI store in Orange are looking to unionize

ORANGE, Ohio — Workers at the REI store in Orange announced their intention to unionize and filed for a union election Wednesday morning.

REI is a national retailer that sells outdoor gear for things like camping, hiking and climbing. Stores in California and New York have already won union elections.

The workers would be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Chelsea Connor, a spokesperson for the union, said workers decided to file for an election after about a year of organizing.

REI’s store in Orange has 55 workers, but would have about 70 if fully staffed, Connor said. Their filing comes about a year after the first Starbucks café in Cleveland filed for a union election, and is another example of growing unionization efforts in Greater Cleveland.

There are now five unionized Starbucks in the Cleveland area.

REI and the store workers could reach a stipulated agreement, which would lay out election rules, the size of the bargaining unit and other terms.

If an agreement isn’t reached, like in the case of Starbucks stores in Cleveland, those decisions would be made after a hearing with the National Labor Relations Board. REI reached a stipulated agreement with the other two stores, Connor said.

“We, the workers of REI Cleveland, are the ones customers come to when seeking firsthand knowledge and experience; we are the ones whose expertise drives the company’s brick and mortar retail business, and it’s time we the workers had a seat at the table, said Dave Hein, an REI workers and part of the store’s organizing committee, said in a prepared statement.

Workers say they’re not being paid a fair wage and are dealing with irregular scheduling.

A cleveland.com reporter has reached out to REI for comment.