Union protesters picket Rite Aid

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/02/15/area_news/doc49967158ef039940980592.txt

Saturday, February 14, 2009 11:18 PM PST
By Erik Olson

About 50 protestors, led by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union local 21, picketed Rite Aid drug stores in Kelso and Longview on Friday afternoon, blasting the company’s actions at a California distribution center and calling for the passage of a federal law to strengthen union rights.

The ILWU says Rite Aid refused to recognize the union during bargaining last year in Lancaster, Calif., after employees voted to join the ILWU.

“What we want the company to know is they need to stop stalling in Lancaster,” said Mary Winzig, organizer for the ILWU’s Columbia River district, outside the Kelso Rite Aid.

The Kelso and Longview Rite Aid stores are non-union. About 30 percent of Rite Aid associates nationwide are union members, company spokeswoman Cheryl Slavinsky said

Rite Aid has bargained in good faith, but the union is demanding “exorbitant” wage increases in Lancaster and nearly free health care, which the company can’t afford, she said.

“Our wages currently are very competitive, and we offer our associates a good health plan, which is the same health plan that covers many of our other union associates,” Slavinsky said in a statement.

FULL story at link.

[MADem]

1. Those bastards ripped me off the other day.

I'll be heading back there next week to gripe. Check your receipts--"Discount taken at register" my ass!