(NEW YORK CITY) - The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a decision in OSHA Complaint No. 2240262, made by technicians in the REI SoHo Bike and Ski Shop on December 5, 2024.

All eight workers employed in the shop have been out on a Health and Safety Strike since December 4th (2024), after REI removed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) previously supplied by the company from the shop without providing any evidence to support their assertion that the work environment is safe to perform ski work in without respirators.

OSHA has shockingly determined the evidence provided by REI is sufficient and does not warrant further investigation by the agency.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) will be contesting this decision and joins with the New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health (NYCOSH) in calling for a new air quality test to be performed by a qualified Industrial Hygienist testing for the three chemicals used during ski tune work - metal grip, emulsion and low-density polyethylene. 

RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum said: “The RWDSU maintains our belief that the evidence provided by REI - a six-year old (2019) air quality trial that only tested for dust and paraffin wax - is both dated and insufficient to address REI SoHo Workers’ concerns. United with NYCOSH, we are calling for a new air quality test to be performed swiftly. We will not rest until our Members work in a safe environment.”

The RWDSU, which is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), represents 100,000 Members across the United States.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report In Its Entirety, Go To: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION SHOCKINGLY DECLINES TO INVESTIGATE REI SOHO SKI SHOP WORKING CONDITIONS — Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)