Local Rite Aid Workers Urged to Reject Contract

Rite Aid workers throughout Southern California were urged today to reject their employer's latest contract proposal and authorize union leaders to call a strike.   The drug store chain has three locations in Palm Desert; on Highway 111, at Country Club and Cook, and on Washington Street near Varner Road.

"A strong vote against the proposals will give union leaders authority to call a strike if a labor action becomes necessary to negotiate a fair contract with Rite Aid,'' a United Food and Commercial Workers statement said.

Rite Aid workers represented by the UFCW will gather at dozens of
locations between Kern County and the Mexican border between today and Monday to learn about Rite Aid's proposals, then vote on whether to accept them, the statement said, accusing Rite Aid of seeking 34 concessions, including "devastating cuts in health care benefits.''

"...A vote to reject the proposals and authorize a strike would push
Rite Aid's management toward negotiating an agreement the workers can ratify,'' it said.