Pharmacy Contract Vote Update 9/09/22
As promised, we are providing the vote results compiled by Election Buddy. These results cover all the electronic voting that was done through Election Buddy.
Election Buddy was used in a total of 6 separate votes: A Local 324 on-site vote, a Local 770 on-site vote, an electronic vote for the 324, 770 and 1442 members who did not vote on-site, a 135 electronic vote, a 1167 electronic vote and a 1428 electronic vote. The results compiled by Election Buddy are: 255 yes and 192 no.
In addition to the votes conducted using Election Buddy, Local 8 conducted in-person, on site voting with the following results: 17 yes and 3 no and 1442 conducted in-person, on site voting with the following results: 1 yes and 1 no. When you add these results to the Election Buddy results, the final tally is: 273 yes votes and 196 no votes.
We hope this clears up any confusion surrounding the recent contract ratification vote. If you have any questions, please reach out to your union representative.
Pharmacy Contract Vote Update 9/01/22
During the most recent Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions pharmacy contract ratification vote, ballots were accidentally sent to 29 Ralphs pharmacists members. This error did not impact the vote result.
As soon as the error was discovered, the Local involved notified Election Buddy, the third party that administers our electronic voting, so that those ballots could be “spoiled.” This means that Election Buddy was able to remove any ballots cast by these 29 Ralphs pharmacists while ensuring that the vote still remains anonymous.
We have made a request to Election Buddy to provide confirmation that no Ralphs votes were included in the final vote results and to do their own compilation of the election results so that you can have confidence in the final result. It will take Election Buddy a few days to provide this analysis and we will provide it to you as soon as we have it.
Although we have a general practice of not releasing final vote results, we will provide you the full vote results in an effort to be as transparent as possible so that all Rx members can have confidence in the result:
Eligible voters: 562;
Total voted: 469;
Yes votes: 273;
No votes: 196
We sincerely apologize and hope this clears up any confusion that was caused by the 29 erroneous ballots sent to Ralphs members. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call your union representative.
Vons, Albertsons, and Pavilions Pharmacy Contract Update 8/27/22
Over the past few days, you and your colleagues have been voting on whether to ratify the company’s final contract offer we presented to you for your consideration.
You have collectively voted YES to accept this contract.
This means you now have a four-year contract in place, effective immediately. We will be asking Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions to institute the wage increases and return you to your previous schedules immediately. You will also be receiving your retroactive pay as soon as possible.
Thank you for showing your commitment to this process by voting, attending meetings, and standing with your coworkers.
Vons, Albertsons, and Pavilions Pharmacy Contract Update 8/24/22
Yesterday we met with Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions. The company formally notified us that the contract they previously presented is now their final offer.
What Does This Mean?
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- We have an obligation to present all final offers to our membership for a vote, even if they are the same offer you previously voted on.
- We will be reaching out to you as soon as possible to answer questions and give you voting details.
- The company has indicated that if the offer passes, retroactive pay, wage increases, and schedule guarantees will go into effect as soon as possible after ratification.
Voting Information
Your Union Representative will come to your store to answer your questions and provide you an opportunity to vote on Thursday and Friday. Anyone who has not voted in person by Friday at 8 PM will be sent a link to vote through Election Budy.
If you have any questions, please contact your Union Representative.
Vons, Albertsons, and Pavilions Pharmacy Contract Update 8/17/22
We have confirmed that we will be meeting with the company again on Tuesday, August 23rd. and will keep you informed of any and all updates.
Pharmacy Contract Update 8/10/22
As you may know, you and your colleagues have been voting on whether to ratify the contract offer presented for your consideration over the past three days.
While the contract offer is the same for all pharmacists, Ralphs pharmacists and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions pharmacists have separate agreements and voted separately on the offers based on your employer:
For pharmacists who work at Ralphs, you have voted YES to ratify this contract. This means you now have a four-year contract in place, effective immediately. We will be asking Ralphs to institute the wage increases and return you to your previous schedules immediately.
For pharmacists who work at Albertsons, Vons, or Pavilions, you have voted NO to reject this contract.
For those of you that work at Albertsons, Vons, or Pavilions, we have asked the company to return to the bargaining table immediately to continue negotiations on your contract. We will be in touch with next steps as soon as possible.
Pharmacy Negotiations Update 8/04/22
After 24 hours of continuous bargaining with Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions, we have a new offer on the table with proposals that address staffing, scheduling, and wage increases.
It was your strength, solidarity, and determination that brought these companies back to the table and allowed us to secure an offer that addresses your top priorities.
Your bargaining committee, made up of your union pharmacy colleagues, recommends a yes vote on this contract offer, but remember, this is a tentative agreement and NOTHING is final until you get a chance to review in detail and vote on this contract. On Sunday at 7:30pm, there will be a contract ratification meeting where you will have a chance to get all the contract details and ask questions.
Voting will be conducted electronically, and you will receive your ballot on Monday morning. You will receive more information at Sunday night’s meeting, so please plan to attend! Please register at the link below.
This is YOUR contract and YOUR decision.
Pharmacy Negotiations Update 7/27/22
Over the past three days, you and your colleagues have been voting on whether to ratify the contract offer we presented to you for your consideration.
You have collectively voted to reject the contract offer.
By taking the time to thoughtfully review the contract offer, attend meetings, ask questions, and ultimately make your voice heard, you have made us a stronger union.
Our top priority is to advocate for the needs of the majority of our members, and we stand behind our members’ decision to reject this contract. Your vote has made it clear how important patient care, staffing levels, and a fair wage are to you.
We are prepared to take action. The federal mediator has asked us to return to the table first. We insisted that any return to the table must be immediate.
Join us for a zoom meeting on Sunday, July 31st at 7:30 pm. We’ll answer your questions and plan our next steps. You can register to join at the link below.
In the past, members were able to join 770 Zoom meetings with just their emails WITHOUT creating a ZOOM account. For security purposes, you must create a Zoom Account and register with that email address to attend this meeting. Please sign up for a free Zoom account here: https://zoom.us/signup.
For detailed instructions or further assistance click here
Thank you, again, for making your voice heard and participating in this vote.
Pharmacy Negotiations Update 7/21/22
UFCW 770 Pharmacists rallied together over the last few days and overwhelmingly voted to authorize a ULP strike!
Pharmacists have spoken and will not tolerate unlawful behavior from their companies: Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, and Pavilions!
These Pharmacists deserve a better contract that directly reflects their hard work and dedication to their patients throughout this pandemic and beyond. Increased wages, better staffing, and safety are just some of the issues Pharmacists are fighting for.
Stay tuned for updates following negotiations which will resume tomorrow!
What happens if we go on strike?
You will be the first to know if we have to take action. Please continue to work until you are notified by your union representative that it is time to close down your stations and stop working. There may not be a picket line at your store, and you may be asked to report to a different store to join the line there.
ALL UNION MEMBERS have the right to refuse to cross a sanctioned picket line, including your fellow union siblings that work in your stores. We will provide a hardship benefit to any member at a store with a picket line who chooses to respect that picket line and stand with Pharmacists. This action is protected by your Union Contract under Article 14 L as seen below.
Pharmacist Negotiations Update for 7/14/2022
Join our Pharmacists Zoom meeting happening Sunday, July 17th at 7:30 pm. We will provide the latest details from the pharmacy negotiations, and answer your questions about the upcoming ULP Strike Vote. Register now to join our zoom call on Sunday, July 17th at 7:30 pm.
Register now for the Zoom Meeting
More information on the Unfair Labor Practice Strike Authorization Vote
Pharmacist Negotiation Update for 6/30/2022
Where we stand
When we met with Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions last week, your bargaining committee, including your fellow pharmacists, continued to push for the issues you care most about – sufficient staffing, fair wages, and guaranteed hours for part-time pharmacists.
This week, Locals 324 and 770 held actions to inform customers and patients about the risks pharmacists face in their jobs. View news clips from the actions here.
Before our next scheduled bargaining meetings with the companies on July 13th and 22nd, we wanted to update you on what we’re fighting for, how you can exercise your rights at work, and what next steps we will take together.
What we’re fighting for:
Better Staffing for Better Patient Care
As an essential worker and trusted health care provider, you know better than anyone that inadequate staffing creates unfair working conditions for you and a worse experience for your patients. That’s why understaffing is one of our top concerns during this contract negotiation.
Guaranteed Minimum Hours Part-Time Pharmacists Can Rely On
A minimum hours guarantee is essential for part-time pharmacists to qualify for medical benefits that all workers rely on. That’s why we will continue to push for a contract that guarantees the hours part-time pharmacists need to qualify for an affordable benefit plan.
Fair Wages for Essential Workers
You deserve wages that fairly compensate you for your expertise, dedication, and sacrifice during the pandemic. Fair wages remain a top priority in this contract.
Exercise your rights!
Your acts of solidarity have made an impact at the bargaining table. We are now at a crucial stage of negotiations where we need to take further action to make our voices heard.
Take your Breaks
It is crucial that you take your breaks! The law, your contract, and your own sanity require you to take rest periods, and it is essential that you exercise your right to take these breaks. By showing your company that you know your rights, and that you are committed to taking the breaks you are entitled to, you will send a clear message that you will not be overworked to compensate for inadequate staffing in crowded pharmacies.
Know your rights, and take your breaks:
“All employees working more than three and one-half hours and up to and including five hours per day shall receive one ten-minute rest period. All employees working more than five hours and up to and including six hours per day shall receive one fifteen-minute rest period. All employees working more than a six hour day shall receive two ten-minute rest periods.”
Ask for Help
You should not have to tolerate working alone. In fact, it is illegal for your company to leave you without any help in the pharmacy. We worked to pass the “No Pharmacist Left Alone” Act, Senate Bill 1442, so that you would have the law on your side!
This act says that your employer cannot require you to work when the pharmacy is open to the public unless another employee is “made available to assist the pharmacist at all times.”
It is vitally important that you exercise your right to request help whenever you need it. By exercising your right to ask for help every time you need it, you are making it clear to these companies that you need better staffed pharmacies. If you request assistance, and are denied help for any reason, please document details of the request (time, date, when you asked for help, how long you waited, etc.) and immediately report this to your Union Representative
Protect Yourself and your License
If you cannot access additional help, and must step away from the pharmacy counter to do a consultation, provide a vaccination, or any other patient service while working alone, please exercise your right to close down the pharmacy counter to ensure safety, and to protect yourself and your pharmacist license.
What’s Next?
Our next scheduled bargaining dates with Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions are on July 13th and July 22nd. We will continue to demand that the companies come to the table with a serious commitment to reaching the strong contract you deserve.
All Southern California Locals will be taking a ULPs strike vote from July 18th -July 20th. Watch your mail and email for your vote notice.
More than ever you must remain united to tell Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions that you deserve better and to show them that you will not tolerate any unfair labor practices as you stand up for what you have earned. You deserve a strong contract, and your continued strength and solidarity will create the leverage to secure it.
Pharmacist Negotiation Update for 6/20/2022
Minimal progress was made in negotiations on Monday, June 20th, when the UFCW locals met with Albertsons, Vons, and Ralphs. In addition to fair wage increases, adequate staffing necessary to provide top-notch patient care and a part-time guarantee of hours sufficient to qualify for medical benefits continue to be the most significant issues in negotiations.
Your collective action of rescinding your alternative scheduling agreements is having an impact. The companies are struggling to create schedules that comply with the contract and have been illegally retaliating and threatening pharmacists to get them to agree to waive their overtime. Grievances and Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges protesting this illegal activity are proceeding. It is crucial that you continue to stay strong at this time to insist on a fair agreement.
Negotiations continue on July 13 and 22. Locals 770 and 324 will hold a Pharmacy Update call on Sunday, June 26th at 7:30 pm. Register at the link below.
Show your support for a fair contract by attending an action on Monday, June 27th, or Tuesday, June 28th!
Upcoming Pharmacists Actions
6/6/22 Update
Pharmacist 12-hour revocation of OT waivers – FAQ
In response to the large number of waiver revocations that we presented to the companies on June 1, managers and supervisors have begun their campaign to intimidate and weaken your resolve to obtain a fair contract. Following are some questions and answers we have received:
Q: Can the company cancel my vacation if it has already been approved?
A: Canceling a vacation which has been approved violates the contract. We will file a grievance and unfair labor practice charge. If you are told that your vacation will be canceled, please contact your Union immediately.
Q: Can the company now schedule me every Saturday and Sunday because I revoked my waiver?
A: This appears to be retaliation and we have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. We are gathering statements from affected pharmacists. If this applies to you, please contact your Union.
Q: Can the company change the schedule of pharmacists who did not revoke the waiver?
A: Yes, provided they follow the contract and provide a 40-hour schedule.
Q: Can the company require me to work 40 hours/week even if I have agreed to less than 40 hours?
A: Yes, this is a voluntary agreement and the company can cancel any time provided they do not change an already posted schedule.
Q: How do we fight back?
A: We must remain strong and determined. Intimidation tactics are common but often illegal. We are filing unfair labor practice charges with the Federal Government. The companies have only offered $0.80 per year increase. If we allow them to weaken us now, the result will be insulting and grossly inadequate.
5/13/22 Update
Watch the video update below from your UFCW 770 Bargaining Committee. Keep wearing your buttons and talking to your co-workers as we continue to fight for the contract you deserve.
4/19/22 Update
For the first time ever, 11 rank-and-file pharmacists sat at the bargaining table representing you in negotiations with management from Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions and Ralphs. We are reaching out to update you on our negotiations and to involve you in our fight to achieve the best possible pharmacy contract.
Our goals are to achieve an increase in wages that keeps pace with inflation and to ensure that pharmacists have the staff necessary to serve their customers promptly and safely. Unfortunately, the companies are not listening to our concerns at the bargaining table.
At this point, we need to do more to make the company understand that all their union pharmacists are willing to stand together to achieve our goals. Our next dates for negotiations are May 6th and May 13th. To stand with us, please reach out to one of the bargaining committee members listed below and join our zoom call on Sunday, May 1st at 7:30 pm.
| Name | Local | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jessi Crowley | 770 | 415-948-5394 | jlcrowleyrph@gmail.com |
| Max Olshansky | 770 | 213-536-1615 | imolshans@gmail.com |
| Dorothy Hutchings | 770 | 818-481-1452 | dorothytran@yahoo.com |
| Janteen Yeftadounaee | 770 | 424-835-1384 | janteen@gmail.com |
| Rabih Kanj | 770 | 504-231-3140 | rabih88@aol.com |
| Jean Drexler | 324 | 714-394-9617 | jeandrexler@gmail.com |
| Tim Rifenberg | 324 | 949-292-3704 | timrifen@yahoo.com |
| Kristen Merritt | 324 | 901-359-6901 | kristen.c.merritt@gmail.com |
| Voy Yik | 324 | 714-321-9820 | voymeister@yahoo.com |
| Katayoun (Katy) Rousta | 324 | 949-232-5289 | katyrousta@yahoo.com |
| Lan Vuong | 324 | 858-336-8410 | lvuong1111@gmail.com |