REI confirms May 15–25 Anniversary Sale despite union boycott

Camping stoves, trail shoes, tents, and fleece are about to get discounted at REI. That would normally be a straightforward retail story. But this year the company’s biggest sale lands in the middle of a labor fight, with unionized workers urging shoppers to stay away. The new piece of news is simple — REI has now confirmed the 2026 Anniversary Sale will go ahead from May 15 through May 25, even with the boycott call hanging over it. (rei.com) ### What exactly did REI confirm? REI’s sale page says the Anniversary Sale starts May 15, and the company is pitching it as its biggest sale of the year. The preview page highlights deals across gear, clothing, and footwear, while outside coverage pegs the event at more than 6,000 discounted products and member-only specials. REI is also teasing savings of up to 30% on the off(rei.com)media summaries that focused on 25% discounts. (rei.com) ### Why is there a boycott at all? Because contract talks with unionized store workers broke down again. REI said in a newsroom post that the two sides met for bargaining and failed to reach agreement, and it criticized union leaders for calling a boycott of the Anniversary Sale. Retail Dive reported this week that the union framed the boycott as the only way left to get management’s attention after negotiations ended without a deal. (rei.com) ### Who is fighting with whom? This is REI management versus REI Union, which represents workers at a growing number of organized stores. Retail Dive reported last month that workers at 11 REI stores had unionized and that the boycott had been authorized ahead of the sale window. That matters because the Anniversary Sale is not some random promotion — it is the co-op’s flagship spring event, the one shoppers actually plan around. (retaildive.com) ### Why target this sale? Because this is the pressure point. A boycott during a sleepy week would be symbolic. A boycott during REI’s biggest sale is meant to hit traffic, revenue, and the company’s public image all at once. For a retailer that sells itself as values-led and member-centered, that is the awkward version of the fight — workers are trying to turn REI’s brand identity into leverage against REI itself. (rei.com) ### Is REI backing down? No. At least not publicly. The company’s posture is basically: the sale is on, the deals are real, and the union is hurting the co-op rather than helping negotiations. The official sale page is live, the preview is up, and REI’s bargaining statement reads more like a rebuttal than a retreat. (re([rei.com)oming into this from a position of obvious strength. Retail Dive reported on May 5 that the co-op posted flat sales and narrower losses. That is better than deeper losses, but it still means REI is in a recovery story, not a victory lap. A threatened boycott landing on the company’s biggest promotional event is exactly the kind of thing management did not need. (retaildive.com) ### What should shoppers watch next? Two things — whether the boycott gains visible traction once the sale opens on May 15, and whether either side announces a return to bargaining. If shoppers keep buying, REI can argue the union overplayed its hand. If the boycott breaks through, workers get proof that public pressure works. Either way, this sale is now doing double duty as both a markdown event and a stress test. (rei.com) ### Bottom line The discounts are real, and so is the labor dispute. REI has decided not to blink before May 15. Now the question is whether shoppers do.