California CVS Workers Turn Action into Significant Contract Gains

Local 5 Members and State-Wide UFCW Locals Ratify New Three-Year Deal

After nearly six months of bargaining backed up by union member solidarity and store-site actions that included a three-day unfair labor practice strike at seven stores in Los Angeles and Orange County, California UFCW members have overwhelmingly approved a new contract with CVS.

The deal includes wage increases of nearly $4 an hour over the term of the agreement for most employees, the elimination of two-tier pay scales, lower health benefit costs, earlier schedule posting and secure staffing language, and paid time off for safety committee members along with other contract improvements sought by the unions.

In addition to its unreasonable bargaining positions, CVS, one of the nation’s largest healthcare companies, engaged in a campaign of intimidation during the process including unlawful surveillance of workers, retaliation for union activity, and interfering with the duties of union representatives. Strong worker resolve to stand together and fight back forced the company to come to an agreement that was significantly better than what was on the table prior to the strike action, says Local 5 bargaining committee member Sylvernell Smith who works at Store 9941 in Berkeley.

“We fought hard to get this done and the people at my store were strongly in favor of the settlement. There could always be more, but we bargained successfully to ultimately get a lot more than the company wanted to give us.”

While the agreement was reached prior to Local 5 members joining the strike, they did their part over the last several months by gathering customer pledges, mobilizing coworkers, and picketing stores along with union and community allies.

The new contract covers more than 1000 Local 5 members throughout Northern California and runs from July 1, 2024 through June 27, 2027. The UFCW represents over 7,000 CVS workers throughout California.