San Diego, CA – Despite Rite Aid recently emerging from bankruptcy, no meaningful progress was made during recent bargaining toward securing a fair contract for the thousands of unionized Rite Aid workers across California. The company continues to push proposals that threaten to take away hard-earned benefits while offering inadequate wages for the essential work employees perform.
Thousands of UFCW members, including nearly 400 workers in San Diego County, are demanding fair wages, more flexible scheduling, and the vacation and sick time they’ve rightfully earned. Rite Aid’s unwillingness to meet these reasonable demands, while the company uses its bankruptcy as an excuse, is unacceptable.
"We understand Rite Aid’s recent financial challenges, but exiting bankruptcy does not give them a pass to shortchange their workers," said UFCW Local 135 President Todd Walters. "These employees are essential to the company’s recovery, and they deserve fair compensation, respect, and the benefits they've worked hard for. Rite Aid must step up and offer a fair deal."
A contract extension has been agreed upon until October 21 at 5 PM, with new negotiation dates set for October 14 and October 21. However, workers are preparing to take action, with an electronic strike authorization vote scheduled from October 15 at 8 AM to October 17 at 5 PM.
The upcoming Rite Aid strike vote comes on the heels of unionized CVS workers across the state voting yes last week to provide their bargaining committee authorization to call, if necessary, an unfair labor strike.
As Rite Aid workers stand united, they will not be divided by management’s attempts to justify poor offers due to the bankruptcy. The company must show respect for the employees who are integral to its operations and future.
For more information on the strike authorization vote or the current state of negotiations, contact UFCW Local 135 Communications Director Brent Beltran at 619.866.8595.
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United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 135 represents over 12,000 workers across San Diego and Imperial Counties, including grocery, pharmacy, health care, meat processing, cannabis, and other essential industries. UFCW Local 135 is part of UFCW International, which represents 1.3 million members nationwide.