Hundreds of students, pensioners, workers and allies visited dozens of Rite Aid stores around Valentine’s Day to talk with store managers about the problems many Rite Aid workers are having with the company.
Rite Aid is trying to impose significant health insurance increases on workers at stores in Ohio and New Jersey and at the company’s giant distribution center in Lancaster, CA. This cost-shifting will make it impossible for many workers to afford coverage for their families.
There were Rite Aid store actions in eight states – CA, CO, MA, NJ, NY, OR, PA and WA – and Washington, DC.
Eleven United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) affiliates participated in store visits, as did five Jobs with Justice (JwJ) coalitions.
At each store visited, activists delivered letters of support for Rite Aid workers to store managers. Store managers were asked to contact Rite Aid CEO John Standley and let him know about the community’s concerns. Demonstrators also talked to Rite Aid customers, many of whom expressed sympathy with Rite Aid workers.
Seattle, WA
In Seattle, WA, 18 people turned out from ILWU Local 19, SEIU 1199NW, Laborers, United Students Against Sweatshops, Jobs With Justice and others for a spirited rally in front of Rite Aid. Demonstrators chanted loudly, leafleted pedestrians and customers, and sported signs with messages including “respect our communities,” and “Rite Aid Don’t Break Our Hearts.”
A delegation of ten people, including ILWU Local 19 President Cam Williams with representatives from all the participating unions and organizations entered the store. They met with the store manager, who said that he had already called corporate headquarters when the action started outside to alert them as to what was happening. President Williams explained they were there to demand affordable healthcare for working families for Rite Aid workers across the country, and presented the letter to the manager, who committed to send it to corporate headquarters.
Bellingham, WA
Rich Austin, President of the Pacific Coast Pensioners helped to coordinate the action in Bellingham, WA. Twenty-three people attended the action representing ILWU pensioners from Locals 7 and 32, retirees from AFSCME, members from Teamsters Local 231, Operating Engineers, Amalgamated Transit Union, Jobs With Justice, United for National Health Care, and students from Western Washington University. Store personnel smiled at people they knew from the delegation who entered, and management took the letter and committed to pass it on to Rite Aid’s corporate headquarters.
Portland, OR
ILWU Local 40 Secretary-Treasurer Dane Jones worked with Jobs With Justice organizer Huy Ong to coordinate the Rite Aid action in Portland, OR. Dane, Huy and another JWJ member entered the store to talk with management, pointing out that ILWU members spend tens of thousands of dollars at local Rite Aid stores.
The continued efforts to spread the word about Rite Aid’s health care rip-off are bearing fruit. Soon after the Valentine’s store visits began, Rite Aid contacted the ILWU to discuss health insurance issues. Bargaining with Rite Aid was suspended in late January, having reached something of a stalemate over employees’ health insurance costs. On February 4, workers at the distribution center voted overwhelmingly to reject the company’s outrageous cost-shifting proposal.
Support for Rite Aid workers won’t let up until they get the respect, wages and benefits they deserve! The next national day of action will be April Fool’s Day.