Source: UFCW 8-Golden State
UFCW 8-Golden State is very pleased to announce we have reached a groundbreaking tentative agreement with Rite Aid covering our members in Northern California. This monumental deal secures significant wage improvements for our members, which are retroactive to January 2023, restores a Union trusteed benefit plan with no weekly premiums for members’ coverage, and recognizes our member’s hard work and dedication with new benefits and protections.
Key achievements of the tentative agreement include:
- Meaningful Wage Increases: All wage increases will be retroactive to January 1, 2023, ensuring immediate financial gains for our members.
- Enhanced Health Care Coverage: Starting January 1, 2025, members will transition to the Professional and Commercial Trades Health and Wellness Fund, a Union-trusted health plan far superior to the company-imposed plan. This new health plan not only surpasses the previous Union-negotiated Drug Fund Plan but also continues with no weekly premiums for members.
- Pension Fund Improvements: Rite Aid’s hourly contribution to pension funding will rise from 55 cents to $1.84 per hour by January 1, 2025, a significant boost for retirement security. Additionally, the agreement includes an exploration of adding a new benefit called Lifetime Income Security Accrual (LISA), which will further strengthen retirement benefits.
- New PTO Rules: Once ratified, the employer will simplify time-off benefits by converting vacations, sick hours, birthday holidays, anniversary holidays, and personal holidays into PTO (paid time off). Restrictions on these holidays have been removed, making it easier for members to use their well-earned time off.
- Vacation Enhancements: All members, regardless of hire date, will now be eligible to receive up to five weeks of vacation after 20+ years of service, eliminating the four-week cap for members hired after February 1998.
- Holiday Benefits Simplified: The 1,700-hour requirement for earning birthday and anniversary holidays has been eliminated, making these important benefits more accessible.
- New Severance Pay: Members will now have access to a severance benefit of up to five weeks’ pay.
- Night Premium Pay: We secured increases in night premium pay, ensuring better compensation for late-hour shifts.
- Improved Bereavement Leave: The definition of “immediate family” has been broadened, and more time off has been granted to better support members during difficult times.
“This is a testament to the commitment of our members and the power of collective bargaining. These historic gains in wages, benefits, and retirement security are well-deserved,” praised President Jacques Loveall.
“This agreement is the finest UFCW negotiated Rite Aid contract in the United States. Together, we have achieved a contract that protects our members’ futures and ensures their work is recognized and rewarded. This is the power of solidarity in action,” said President Loveall.
Complete details of the agreement will be shared with members in the coming days, and members will have the opportunity to review the agreement and have questions answered prior to voting. Stay tuned for ratification meeting dates and locations.
Together, with the strength and unity of our members, we will continue to prove Solidarity Works!
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