AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka today announced the formation of an AFL-CIO fact-finding committee to investigate PacifiCare, a California-based HMO and mail order pharmacy service, for alleged intimidation and harassment against workers who want a voice on the job.
This is the first fact-finding committee ever established by the AFL-CIO to investigate complaints of anti-worker tactics brought by an affiliated union against an employer with a significant union clientele.
Trumka said the AFL-CIO has received complaints from one of its affiliated unions, the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), that PacifiCare has waged a campaign that discouraged its employees from organizing to improve working conditions.
“We need to get to the bottom of this situation and a fact finding committee can obtain the information we need to make decisions about how organized labor will approach this disturbing situation," said Trumka.
Pharmacists tried to form a union with PACE at the Carlsbad, California PacifiCare/Rx Solutions mail order pharmacy facility and despite efforts to intimidate its employees, pharmacists voted to organize and PACE was certified as the bargaining representative November 2001. The pharmacists sought union representation to achieve dignity on the job and address issues of company favoritism and arbitrary changes in company policy.
As support staff tried to organize with PACE, PacifiCare management continued to wage anti-worker tactics including a threat to replace permanent workers with temporary workers. Following a campaign of harassment, PACE was forced to withdraw its petition. The company’s failure to negotiate in good faith also led to the decertification of the pharmacists’ union in December 2002.
A large number of union members are insured by PacifiCare and utilize its mail order pharmacy service, Rx Solutions. PacifiCare also markets a mail order pharmacy service, MyUnionRx, exclusively to labor unions.
The fact-finding committee will include representatives from unions that utilize PacifiCare and will be chaired by Trumka. Members of the fact-finding committee plan to meet with PacifiCare management and affected employees and issue a report of its findings.
"Companies cannot have it both ways," said Trumka. "If they want union business, they must respect the right of their employees to choose union representation. That's the bottom line. Our union affiliates need to be informed about it so that they can respond appropriately."
Contact: Shawn Gilchrist
PACE Special Projects Dept.
615-831-6723
