A voice at work.  
When you join with your coworkers, your employer has to negotiate with you as a group. Together, you have more power than you would have as an individual to demand a fair wage, sick pay, vacation days, and improved working conditions at your job.  Once you ratify your contract, your employer cannot make any changes without negotiating and reaching an agreement with all of you first.

1199SEIU represents Rite Aid workers in New York City, Long Island, and through the Hudson Valley north to Albany. In Northern New Jersey, we represent Rite Aid workers in Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Union, Passaic and Middlesex Counties. Former Eckerd workers outside of these areas should contact the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) local to find out if they represent Rite Aid workers in your area.

» To sign up with 1199SEIU download the membership application (pdf), print, fill out and mail it to us.

"My grandmother was a member, and I can't imagine life without 1199SEIU. A worker really needs union protection when working for a big corporation. Once we had a new manager who fired a really good long-time worker for no reason. The union was notified, and the next day the worker was reinstated and the manager was gone. It's not just about keeping your job; it's also about keeping the good reputation you've earned. Another thing that occurs in non-union stores is cutting workers' hours so they aren't eligible for benefits and firing longtime workers because they earn more money. With 1199SEIU, your hours can't just be cut and even part-time workers are eligible for certain benefits at no cost to them and seniority is a benefit, not a liability. I encourage all former Eckerd workers to join with us at 1199SEIU."

- René Tureski, Rite Aid Cashier
34-year employee, Bridgehampton, NY