UFCW calls Shoppers’ plans to close pharmacies “frustrating”

After Shoppers Food & Pharmacy parent company UNFI abruptly announced plans to close all 30 Shoppers pharmacies, UFCW 400 and UFCW 27 yesterday called the move “a frustrating situation for everyone involved,” adding that “the lack of information has only made things worse.” With the closings scheduled to begin starting April 23, the unions said that pharmacy techs at those locations will be placed on the store’s schedule in clerk positions with no effect to their rate of pay or status. They added that although the company “continues to insist that there are ‘no immediate plans’ to close any Shoppers stores, “We have made it clear that we expect UNFI to respect the terms of our collective bargaining agreement in the event that stores are sold.”

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