Strike Looming For Temecula Rite Aid Workers

The union representing employees in Southern California on Thursday urged its members to reject the company's contract proposal, setting the stage for a possible strike in Temecula.

"A strong vote against the proposals will give union leaders authority
to call a strike if a labor action becomes necessary to negotiate a fair
contract with Rite Aid," read a United Food and Commercial Workers statement.

There are two Rite Aid stores in Temecula: 39782 Winchester Road and 31797 Temecula Pkwy.

Rite Aid workers represented by the UFCW will gather at dozens of
locations between Kern County and the Mexican border between Thursday and Monday to learn about Rite Aid's proposals, then vote on whether to accept them, the statement said.

Union officials accused Rite Aid of seeking 34 concessions, including
"devastating cuts in health care benefits."

"...A vote to reject the proposals and authorize a strike would push
Rite Aid's management toward negotiating an agreement the workers can ratify," read the statement.

The call for a rejection's of the company's proposal was directed at
workers represented by seven UFCW locals, including the one representing the Inland Empire.

--City News Service contributed to this report