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On Oct. 29, workers at the Lush Cosmetics store at the St. Louis Galleria Mall in St. Louis joined UFCW Local 655. This organizing win marks the first Lush Cosmetics store in Missouri to unionize.

These workers joined our union family for a voice in the workplace. Their decision reflects the belief that forming a union is in their best interest and aligns with the company’s stated corporate values.

“Lush is very open about supporting animal rights, environmental justice, and human rights,” said Harshini Abbaraju, a Lush Cosmetics employee who has worked for the company in three states and is now employed at the St. Louis Galleria Mall. “Now they need to put their money where their mouth is and recognize our union, because there are no human rights without workers’ rights.”

“That’s their ethos,” Abbaraju added. “Because that’s their ethos, and because our union will allow us to assert our dignity in the workplace, the company should have no problem working with us to get a strong, first contract.”

“We look forward to meeting with the employees to get their concerns and bargaining with Lush management to get a contract that addresses those concerns,” said UFCW Local 655 President David Cook.

In addition to the new Lush Cosmetics unit in St. Louis, the UFCW also represents Lush Cosmetics workers in Louisville and Lexington, Ky., who are members of UFCW Local 227, and Lush Cosmetics workers in Friendswood, Texas, who are members of UFCW Local 455.

On Nov. 8, over 7,000 members of UFCW Locals 5, 135, 324, 648, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442 who work at CVS locations across California ratified a strong, new contract with CVS Pharmacy. The agreement was reached after months of negotiations, a three-day ULP strike in Los Angeles and Orange counties, and active participation from thousands of California pharmacists, pharmacy clerks, and technicians.

Key provisions of the three-year contract include:

•           Wage increases for all workers each year of the contract. Initial increases will be retroactive to July 7, 2024.

•           New longevity rates at 10 and 15 years resulting in wage increases of close to 20 percent over three years.

•           Elimination of the two-tier wage scale for store associates and associate Rx classifications.

•           Increased health care bonus for employees who were struggling with the high cost of the company plan.

•           Protection of health benefits for those employees who are in the union-managed health plan.

“Today, by ratifying this contract, CVS workers have secured significant wage increases for all workers, more secure staffing levels, and a more affordable health care plan for members who were struggling with the high cost of the company’s health plan,” said members of the eight UFCW locals in a joint statement. “After countless hours at the bargaining table and a strategic strike in seven Southern California pharmacies protesting the company’s illegal actions, the hard-working members of the UFCW stood together for their families and each other and secured a strong contract. This contract is a concrete and direct result of the tireless work of the member-led bargaining committee. Together, our members are fighting for a more promising future, and this contract will help to achieve that goal.”