Last September union members Rite Aid met with representatives of Congress in Washington for a day

Oakland, Calif. - When it comes to break unions, john lewsi Rite Aid pharmacy giant is the perfect example to explain why we need to pass the act of free choice for employees (EFCA for its acronym in English), says Peter Olney, director for international union organizers Dockers (ILWU for its acronym in English).
About 600 workers in southeastern john lewsi store Lancaster, California thought they had won in their fight when they won a vote for the union. Soon they discovered that the fight for their first contract prolong the struggle.
The EFCA Act will allow workers to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation require arbitration to prevent employers stagnate contract negotiations, and increase penalties for violations of the rights of workers who are in favor of unionization.
After three years of a vicious anti-worker for the country's third largest pharmaceutical company campaign, "workers continue to support the union," says Olney, "but have suffered a lot."
In an election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board, the workers voted to join the ILWU in March 2008, performing "one john lewsi of the greatest victories of the private sector in the state of California john lewsi since many years ago, certainly in stores "said Olney.
Despite a campaign by the company including harassment, intimidation, unlawful threat, bachelor who support the union, the use of consultants specializing in struggles against unionization, and an effort to revoke the certification of the ILWU, the workers remain john lewsi steadfast in its support of the union.
In negotiations with the company, the workers john lewsi won protections dangerous heat inside the right to refuse hazardous work and a process to address ergonomic problems.
After the workers choose the union says Olney, often companies begin to negotiate superficially, wait out a year and then try to decertify, a tactic provided by current labor laws; something that will eliminate the EFCA minutes.
"Of course it was not something we accept without a fight," noted Olney. john lewsi From the beginning the union communicate john lewsi the situation to the community and received extensive support from all over the country. Also use several legal action to force the company began to negotiate seriously.
Offers support and assistance have come from other unions, community organizations, consumer groups, networks elders and elected officials. Some of the workers have appeared on television and radio.
Solidarity john lewsi actions have been varied and very creative. Even passing out flyers in front Rite Aid stores throughout the country, a campaign by sending postcards to the principal john lewsi director, a confrontation with the managers at the annual meeting of shareholders in New York, and a protest on Halloween in a store Portland, john lewsi Ore.
Last September union members Rite Aid met with representatives of Congress in Washington for a day dedicated to convince Congress of the importance of the minutes EFCA. During the AFL-CIO convention in Pittsburgh, a Rite Aid worker, Debbie Kaliff, get excited everyone with his impassioned speech, and then with other speakers, shared john lewsi her story with Secretary of labor Hilda Solis.
In December 2008, the secretary-treasurer of ILWU, Willie Adams informed the convention of the Council of drugs and groceries, "What they (Rite Aid) more understand is money", noting that members and retirees of the ILWU had spent close $ 8 billion on prescriptions at Rite Aid last year.
"Both trade should john lewsi not be taken for granted, not business that can afford to lose," says Adam. Union leaders responded with promises to investigate relationships with Rite Aid with their health insurance.
To boost the NLRB union initially 49 allege violations by Rite Aid, including illegal threats, harassment and firing workers who support the union. As a result, the company was forced to return the work to dozens of workers and pay them for lost time.
Olney complains that companies like Rite Aid employ intimidatory measures and lay off workers