REI executives announced Tuesday that wages for workers in Denver will increase 10 percent to compensate for a rise in cost of living, according to the Denver Post.
The increases, called “investments in hourly pay” in a memo from retail SVP Tim Spangler, come in response to demands from labor group REI Employees for Real Change, based in Portland and Seattle.
The group began circulating a petition in May that called for “guaranteed stable hours, more full-time opportunity, a sustainable living wage and three-week advance notice of schedules.” The petition reached 2,063 signatures and REI took notice.
Spangler announced that wages will increase between 5 and 15 percent, depending on the market, as part of a national move to increase workers’ wages in cities where cost of living has dramatically increased. Employees in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Seattle and Washington, D.C., will all see wage increases.
As far as scheduling, Spangler said REI will test out some new strategies, including posting schedules up to 16 days in advance, and implementing a "good faith commitment of hours between retail employees and the co-op."
REI will adopt these strategies if they work during a trial period beginning in August. Wage increases will go into effect August 21.
Multimedia business & healthcare reporter Chloe Aiello can be reached via email at [email protected] or twitter.com/chlobo_ilo.
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