Union locals authorize SoCal strike against Rite Aid
Aug 01, 2012 (San Bernardino County Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Workers at Rite Aid stores throughout Southern California voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if contract talks do not progress, their union announced Tuesday. The vote grants leaders of seven local units of the United Food and Commercial Workers the authority to call a strike, if it becomes necessary.
Union members voted from Thursday through Monday July at dozens of locations between Kern County and the Mexican border.
There are approximately 11,000 employees in the bargaining union.
"We think such a vote was premature, especially since the union hasn't even given us a counter proposal to our first proposal," Eric Harkreader, a Rite Aid spokesman, said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
"Rite Aid has and will continue to work with UFCW locals representing our associates to reach a new agreement, one that is fair to all parties involved. In fact, we have bargaining sessions set for the next three weeks, starting tomorrow, and look forward to getting back to the table," he wrote.
According to union officials, Rite Aid is seeking 34 concessions from the workers including:
Effective elimination of health care for workers' spouses and children;
Out-of-pocket costs for health care benefits of up to $10,000 a year;
Virtual elimination of all accumulated sick pay and leave pay;
Reduction of the number of hours workers are allowed to work;
Elimination of the 40-hour workweek and 24-hour guaranteed for part-time employees;
UFCW leaders praised the workers for affirming their unshaken solidarity with their union.
"The members' emphatic rejection of Rite Aid's demands and their vote for strike authorization will push management toward negotiation an agreement the workers can ratify," they said in a statement.
Reach Jim via email, call him at 909-386-3855, or find him on Twitter @JSteinbergsRoad.
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
