National Valentine’s actions to support Rite Aid workers

Feb 3, 2011 | Fighting for Good Jobs

Let’s support the struggle for justice by Rite Aid workers!

Rite Aid, the nation’s third-largest retail drug chain, has been struggling financially for years. Yet, despite management’s serious and costly mistakes – which have left the company deeply in debt – Rite Aid bosses have rewarded themselves with handsome compensation packages. Now top management is trying to balance their books by overcharging workers for health insurance. For example:

  • At the giant Lancaster, CA, distribution center, Rite Aid is trying to gouge employees by marking-up their cost of health insurance by 28 times over the increases being charged by insurers.
  • In Cleveland, dedicated Rite Aid store clerks, who have foregone raises for years in order to maintain affordable health care, are facing such severe increases in health insurance costs they may be forced to strike; and
  • In Pennsylvania, Rite Aid has been trying extract harsh concessions from store employees for months, weakening morale.
  • In New Jersey, Rite Aid also is looking to gouge employees by changing their already expensive health care plan to an even more unaffordable plan and trying to prevent workers at its newly acquired stores from joining a union to secure their rights on the job.

There is another way.

Instead of battling against workers, Rite Aid executives should be working with employees to solve problems, improve service and ensure customer satisfaction. That’s the best way to turn the company around.

We can help by joining the National Valentine’s Action February 11-18, 2011

Here is a list of confirmed actions:

Amherst, OH:

Canton, OH:

Cleveland, OH

Westlake, OH:

Youngstown, OH:

Los Angeles, CA

San Pedro, CA:

San Mateo, CA

Santa Clara, CA

Bellingham, WA:

Seattle, WA

Holyoke, MA

Somerville, MA

New York City

  • Sunday, 2/13/2011, time and location tba: New York City; Contact: Marlie Wilson, 339-223-2856.

Portland, OR

Denver, CO

  • Saturday, 2/12/2011, 1:00 pm: Rite Aid, 750 16th Street, Denver, CO –Contact: Russell Bannan, Colorado Jobs with Justice, 303.928.9369.

Washington, DC

We will be updating this list as more actions are confirmed, so please continue to check back.

If you would like information about actions in the planning stages, but not yet confirmed or if you are interested in planning your own action at your local Rite Aid store, please contact: Amy Willis, ILWU, 415-775-0533, x147.

Download the flyer here (PDF)