Pharmacists at some of Southern California’s major supermarket chains have voted to authorize a strike “should one become necessary ,” union officials said Friday.
“Last night, hundreds of United Food and Commercial Workers pharmacists represented by UFCW local unions across Southern California overwhelmingly authorized their bargaining committee to call for an Unfair Labor Practice strike … in response to Ralphs’ and Albertsons’ alleged unlawful conduct during contract negotiations,” the UFCW said in a statement Friday.
The vote does not necessarily mean a strike will occur. The union said the parties are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on Aug. 6-7.
The UFCW further said that bargaining has been ongoing for four months under an expired contract.
The UFCW represents nearly 800 pharmacists who work at Ralphs, Vons, Albertsons and Pavilions in California.
Representatives for Kroger, parent company of Ralphs, and Albertsons, which owns Vons and Pavilions, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday morning.