Rite Aid members have ratified another three-year contract after a tough round of negotiations which includes annual three percent raises and a dollar per hour increase in the night differential.

Management came after members healthcare benefits, but 1199ers fought back and protected their affordable insurance. Members were also successful in protecting their 1199SEIU Pension Fund, Training & Upgrading Fund and Child Care Fund in the face of management attempts to take these valuable funds off the table. “After much deliberation and consideration of all union members, we have reached a reasonable contract with Rite Aid,” said Shilpa Patel, an 1199 Delegate and bargaining committee member, adding: “We have gone above and beyond to be fair and unbiased in our negotiations for the contract.”

Another committee member and Union Delegate, Carlos Villalba, said: “It was a tough fight, but we ended up victorious. We fought against our employer’s unaffordable healthcare proposal and won, and we protected our funds!”

1199 Magazine - July / August 2022