Workers will remain nonunion at Rite Aid

A new labor organization that formed to represent 13 pharmacy technicians at a Corvallis Rite Aid lost its election by a wide margin. 

Pharmacy Technicians of Rite Aid Union —an independent union effort unaffiliated with any established union—filed for a union election in November. When the election was held in the store Jan. 19, the union had just 2 votes in favor, and 11 votes against. With 100% voter turnout, it was a resounding defeat. 

Pharmacy tech and union petitioner Torrey Hunter told the Labor Press he launched the union campaign because workers had been through a period of turmoil without appropriate wage increases. Workers were strained in 2021, when Bi-Mart shut down all of its Oregon pharmacies and sold that part of its business to Walgreens. That created long lines at other pharmacies as former Bi-Mart customers sought alternatives. Meanwhile, pharmacies began administering COVID-19 vaccines and were constantly understaffed. When the pressure began to ease up in 2022, workers were praised but not compensated, Hunter said by email. 

Although Rite Aid is entirely non-union in Oregon, workers at California and Washington stores are represented by a several United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) locals.