Bartell Drugs falling short on essential worker pay, benefits

SEATTLE (May 15, 2020) — Many essential workers at retail and grocery stores in the Puget Sound region have been getting extra hazard pay and other additional benefits as they work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But not at Bartell Drugs.

Employees at Bartell are risking their health to keep these drug stores and pharmacies open, but they are not getting the same recognition and respect — in the form of wage and benefit increases — that their competitor retailers have given their essential workers. UFCW 21 is currently in negotiations with Bartell Drugs to urge the company to show their workers the same respect. So stay tuned.

UFCW 21 is the largest private-sector union in Washington, with more than 46,000 members working in grocery store, retail, health care, and other industries.