By Sabrina Cardin
AMESBURY — Half a dozen local protesters gathered at Rite Aid yesterday in support of California workers currently fighting to join a union and their larger cause, the Employee Free Choice Act.
Protesters believe the Rite Aid in Lancaster, Calif., with its violations and attempts to halt a union, shows the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act.
The legislation would amend the National Labor Relations Act. Current law has favored secret ballot elections that are monitored by the federal government; the new law would favor a system where a union is formed if it can get at least 50 percent of employees to sign a petition.
Unions have argued the current system allows employers to pressure employees to vote against unionizing. Critics of the proposed law say it will allow unions to strongarm and intimidate employees, and effectively take away the secret ballot system.
"These are rights we have had in the United States since the 1930s, and what happened at Rite Aid is wrong; they only got a slap on the wrist," said Sumner Delaney, the lead organizer.
"I'm here in part for Jobs with Justice, and they are powerful. If we wanted 500 people here, we could have them here, but that's not what we are about," Delaney said.
Upon his arrival, Delaney stated his purpose to the Rite Aid manager in Amesbury. After 5 minutes, the manager instructed protesters to leave the property or he would call the police.
Amesbury police Sgt. William Sholtz appeared on the scene but did not ask them to leave.
Delaney handed the officer a flier to which he replied, "You are fine, don't disrupt anything and you are OK."
Protesters gathered in the rain and handed out leaflets providing information on Rite Aid and the act from 4 to 6 p.m. at seven Rite Aid chains across Massachusetts. Amesbury's leafletting campaign is one in a long line of protests that have been taking place across the United States for months. In February, demonstrators gathered at 14 separate Rite Aid locations in Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington and California.
"We want people to know the public is working against these national companies, and we need to be heard," Delaney said. "It's about developing the middle class, which will save the country."
Delaney first heard about the act and Rite Aid's current controversy with workers wanting to join a union in Southern California through Jobs with Justice. Jobs with Justice is a national campaign to win justice in workplaces and work toward economic and social justice. It has helped lead protests throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Delaney chose Amesbury's Rite Aid branch because his parents live in town and he has a familiarity with the area.
"It's a blue-collar town, and people need to be aware and know how important it is to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act,' he said.
Both of Delaney's parents handed out leaflets in support of the protest.
Although out in support of the Employee Free Choice Act and California Rite Aid employees' rights, Delaney said he is not against Rite Aid.
"We aren't here to protest Rite Aide; we want people to still go to their stores, but we want people to know that they need to sign this union contract," he said.
