Medco Gets Dose of Union Power

by James Parks, Apr 13, 2006

Union members are using their purchasing power to urge mail-order pharmacy Medco Health Solutions, Inc. to end the immoral lockout of some 500 USW Local 675 pharmacy technicians in Las Vegas.

By Medco’s own account, more than 6 million union members and their families, 25 percent of the company’s business, are covered by one of the company’s prescription plans.

Despite $602 million in record profits last year, Medco is demanding its locked-out pharmacy technicians bear a substantial portion of their health care costs. During contract negotiations, Medco is alleged to have committed numerous unfair labor practices, including retaliating against union members for peaceful solidarity actions and unilaterally changing employee benefits, according to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). On March 31, the NLRB issued a complaint against Medco over its unlawful conduct. The union is filing another unfair labor practice charge over the April 5 lockout.

“Due to the risks of having inexperienced replacements filling mail-order prescriptions through Medco, the AFL-CIO is strongly recommending that people consider filling their prescriptions at a retail pharmacy whenever possible until this dispute has been resolved,” says AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka.

The federation also is asking union members and allies to send letters to Medco’s CEO David Snow requesting that he end the lockout and negotiate in good faith.  His address is:

David Snow
CEO, Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
100 Parsons Pond Drive
 Franklin Lakes, N.J. 07417
Phone: 201-269-5920

“A substantial part of Medco’s business and profits comes from plans that cover our members,” Trumka says. “It is absolutely unconscionable that Medco would take our money and, at the same time, replace its unionized workers after they understandably reject its unreasonable, concessionary contract demands.”

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (0)