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Employees at seven CVS pharmacies in Southern California at the moment are on strike, as they demand higher pay and well being care and to name out what they describe as the corporate participating in bad-faith contract bargaining.
The strike started Friday and continued by means of the weekend, affecting 4 shops in Los Angeles and three others in Orange County. Placing employees exterior a Los Angeles location informed prospects on Saturday to not cross the picket strains, in accordance with The Related Press.
Melissa Acosta, a pharmacy technician who’s on the contract bargaining committee, claimed the corporate was “intimidating employees, observing them, getting in the way in which of them chatting with union representatives,” the outlet reported.
Regardless of the strike, the affected CVS places have remained open and staffed by managers and nonunion staff.
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Employees at seven CVS pharmacies in Southern California at the moment are on strike, as they demand higher pay and well being care. (Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
Employees deliberate to proceed picketing till contract negotiations with the corporate resume Wednesday.
The strike was accredited when greater than 90% of the 2 native United Meals and Business Employees unions concerned voted in favor on Sept. 29, in accordance with The Related Press.
“We’re disillusioned that our UFCW member colleagues have gone on strike at a couple of choose places within the Los Angeles space,” CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault mentioned in an announcement.
Thibault mentioned the corporate has made progress in the direction of a ultimate contract and has reached tentative agreements to lift pay and improve the corporate’s medical insurance contributions.
Acosta mentioned she can’t afford the price of the insurance coverage CVS affords, so she is as a substitute enrolled within the state-run program Lined California.
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Employees deliberate to proceed picketing till contract negotiations with the corporate resume Wednesday. (Scott Olson/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
“In my 9 years of working with CVS, I’ve by no means been capable of afford their well being care plan,” she mentioned.
Pharmacy chains throughout the nation have struggled with prices and on-line competitors.
CVS Well being CEO Karen Lynch of CVS Well being lately resigned, as shares dropped 19%. CVS is reaching the top of a three-year plan to shut 900 shops.
The corporate’s pharmacy technicians, who should full an in depth coaching program and fulfill licensing necessities, at present make $24.90 an hour after 5 years on the job, the union mentioned.
Carlos Alfaro, a technician who’s on strike, mentioned shops are understaffed because the flu season begins, in accordance with The Related Press.
CVS pharmacy technicians at present make $24.90 an hour after 5 years on the job, the union mentioned. ( Paul Weaver/SOPA Photographs/LightRocket through Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
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“Now we have to name [patients] always to get flu pictures, push vaccines,” Alfaro mentioned. “It is a lot of additional work we’re anticipated to do, on prime of filling drugs on the pharmacy.”
Many shops have been locking up gadgets in an effort to forestall shoplifting, forcing prospects to ask staff to unlock gadgets resembling cleaning soap and laundry detergent.
“There are such a lot of prospects that do not get assist and should always wait to get one thing unlocked,” Acosta mentioned. “They suppose we simply do not wish to assist them, when in actuality the corporate does not give us enough staffing to have the ability to present wonderful customer support.”
Employees are additionally making different calls for, together with a request for higher retailer safety.
