SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Rite Aid Talks Proceed — Slowly

Our contract negotiations with Rite Aid are proceeding slowly, but we intend to emerge from this process with a collective bargaining agreement that protects and improves our

members’ quality of life.

    All UFCW locals in Northern California are working together toward a successful conclusion to the negotiations. We knew from the start that these discussions would be difficult.

    The drug industry is changing because Rite Aid,  Walgreen’s and CVS are competing fiercely to dominate the business. That competition puts pressures on the employers to cut costs whenever and wherever possible.

    Our job as a Union is to provide our own pressure for better wages, benefits and working conditions

for our members.

    Unfortunately, the current environment in the United States

does not help business and labor reach easy resolution of the opposing forces of business competition and union solidarity.

    The Bush Administration is firmly on the side of business and has been doing everything it can to make life difficult for unions.

    With the government’s support,

Businesses have been taking a hard line in negotiations across the country. This was made evident most recently in Southern California, where it took six months for seven UFCW local unions to reach an agreement with the major supermarket

employers. Prior to the 141-day

strike/lockout of 2003-2004, the two sides  always managed to reach equitable agreements in a reasonable amount of time.

    Although the current bargaining with Rite Aid is difficult, we are committed, as always, to negotiate the best possible contract for our members.

Our Rite Aid members can help during this tough process by staying strong and united, avoiding rumors and following developments as they are reported on Union bulletin boards, at the Union website and in Union publications like Voice of

Action .

    They can also help us reach out into the community by talking about the negotiations with friends, relatives,

neighbors, community groups, fellow congregants at church and everyone else they know.

    This will help us build alliances in the community, including clergy, politicians and the public. Such

alliances have helped UFCW 8 win some of the best labor contracts in the country.

    Whether or not you are a Drug Division member, it is the duty of every Union members to support President Jacques Loveall, Secretary-Treasurer Michael Tursky and our entire negotiating team in the collective bargaining process.

Together, we can achieve our goals and secure a brighter future for all of our members and their families.

Always remember that “Solidarity

Works!”

By Kirk Vogt

Senior Executive Vice President

Official publication of UFCW 8-Golden State Jacques Loveall, President