LOS ANGELES — Unions representing over 7,000 CVS employees in Southern California have established a preliminary agreement on a new contract following a strike that commenced over the weekend. Workers had rallied for improved wages, better staffing, and more affordable healthcare options.
“Today’s events demonstrate that when workers unite and advocate for their rights, they achieve victories,” stated the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) bargaining committee in an official press release. “We are eager to present the specifics of this agreement to our fellow workers and encourage participation in the voting process.”
The strike impacted four stores in Los Angeles and three in Orange County, commencing on Friday morning and persisting throughout the weekend. In response, the union lodged unfair labor practice charges against the company, claiming it resorted to intimidation tactics and hindered workers’ ability to communicate with their union representatives.
Negotiations have been organized for Wednesday to iron out the specifics of a contract that had lapsed in June. Union members will now be granted the chance to examine and vote on the contract that the committee unanimously endorses.
Many workers have voiced concerns about the affordability of the insurance plans offered by CVS. They have also indicated that the stores are inadequately staffed to meet the heightened demands associated with flu season, with items behind locked shelves worsening the staffing challenges.
The company has expressed its satisfaction in reaching a tentative agreement. “We take pride in our longstanding, fruitful relationship with the UFCW and are optimistic about finalizing a new contract soon,” CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault commented in an email.
In related news, last Friday, a large group of Rite Aid pharmacy employees in the Los Angeles region, also represented by UFCW, voted to authorize a strike after their contract expired two months ago. The union accused the company of engaging in unfair labor practices, including providing incentives to discourage assistance with petitions and negotiating directly with workers.
Additionally, on Monday, more than 2,400 Kaiser mental health workers initiated an open-ended strike due to escalating workloads and staffing shortages, which their union claims have resulted in a “substandard” level of care. Picket lines were established outside Kaiser facilities across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.
