Rite Aid Workers Authorize Strike

Workers at Rite Aid stores throughout Southern California voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if no progress is made in contract talks, their union announced today.

"The members' emphatic rejection of Rite Aid's demands and their vote
for strike authorization will push management toward negotiating an agreement
the workers can ratify,'' the leaders of the seven union locals representing
the workers said in a joint statement.

Rite Aid officials could not be reached for immediate comment.

The union locals represent workers at Rite Aid stores stretching from
Kern County to the Mexican border. Union members voted on a strike
authorization and management's most recent labor proposals between Thursday and Monday.

Union officials said Rite Aid was seeking nearly three dozen concessions
from workers, including what they called an elimination of health care for
workers' spouses and children, increased out-of-pocket costs for health care,
elimination of sick leave pay, reduction in work hours and elimination of the
40-hour work week.