Unions At Rite-Aid Call On Its Shareholders For Fair Labor Contracts

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/13749

By Doug Cunningham

On Wednesday four unions – UFCW, teamsters, SEIU and longshoremen - used the annual shareholders meeting of the national drugstore chain Rite-Aid to call on the company to bargain in good faith with its workers to reach new fair contracts.
Wendell Young , President of UFCW Local 1776 in Pennsylvania, says unions are not making unreasonable demands. He says this is their message to Rite-Aid.

: “Our people are comin’ to work every day, they’re doin’ their job. They haven’t had wage increases, you’re tryin’ to strip them of their benefits. In some cases you’re refusing and fighting them even havin’ a contract in the first place while the people in the executive suite and the board of directors are actin’ like there’s a money tree growin’ in the lobby and they can just keep shakin’ it.”

Young says for his UFCW members at Rite-Aid in Pennsylvania – who earn on average roughly 22 – 27 thousand dollars a year - health care is a huge outstanding issue.

: “What the company has proposed is a plan that would cost these people anywhere from four to six thousand dollars out of pocket if they were to incur any significant medial expenses over and above routine and preventative care.”

[SocialistLez]

1. How ironic. A drug-store chain increasing healthcare premiums on workers....NT