Welcome to the UFCW Professional Division Website. We have developed this site to provide you with immediate access to information which affects the pharmacists we represent. This site is intended to give special recognition to the dedicated pharmacists who make up our UFCW Professional Division.

We also want to hear from you and invite your input. If there are issues or questions you would like to see addressed, please contact your union webmaster by visiting your local union's website.

Thank you for visiting us.

Geraldina "Gerry" Afkari

Gerry Afkari of Ralphs Grocery has been a pharmacist for 31 years. She received her degree from the University of Texas. Gerry is a very active member of UFCW Local 1442.

When Afkari worked for Thrifty, she was part of the "rank & file" negotiation committee in the late 80's and early 90's - who's goal was a "Pharmacists Only" Local. She continues to strive for a separate contract for grocery pharmacists.

Currently an Executive Board Member of the South Bay Pharmacist Association, Gerry also proudly served as the President & Secretary of that organization. In addition, she was also a member of the Board of Trustees for the California Pharmacist Association.

Q: What is it you like most about your job?

A: “I enjoy making a connection our patients and becoming part of their health care team.”

Outlook is the premier California pharmacy convention where pharmacists meet each year to network, do business, obtain quality continuing education and participate in one of the largest state pharmacy exhibit halls in the nation. It is hosted annually by the California Pharmacists Association and the Pharmacy Foundation of California.

Outlook 2010 was held in the Long Beach Convention Center February 4 – 7, 2010.

The UFCW Professional Division participated in the convention by sponsoring a information booth in the exhibit hall. We were there to answer questions from UFCW Pharmacists, students, and Pharmacists interested in being represented by the UFCW.

Here are photos of two of the four winners in our convention drawings:

• Governor Schwarzenegger Launches Nation’s Largest Telehealth Network California
  August 17, 2010
  Office of the Governor
• Chocolate is a health food. (This message brought to you by the makers of Hershey bars.)
  July 22, 2010
  L.A. Times
• Young and Healthy? Check Cholesterol
  July 20, 2010
  L.A. Times
• Lindsay Lohan Scores Rx In Jail
  July 21, 2010
  TMZ.com
• Seniors now urged to get whooping cough shot
  July 20, 2010
  SF Gate
• How to Care for 30 Million More Patients
  July 19, 2010
  Wall Street Journal
• Pain Med Addiction Up 400 Percent in Last Decade
  July 16, 2010
  ABC News
• Could health workers suffer 'secondhand chemo'?
  July 12, 2010
  CNN
• California says whooping cough is at epidemic levels
  June 24, 2010
  L.A. Times
• Erectile dysfunction precedes heart attack
  June 23, 2010
  UPI.com
• Consumers find pharmacists most trustworthy
  June 23, 2010
  ModernMedicine
• To heck with negative publicity! Doctors still dig those drug-company freebies
  June 22, 2010
  L.A. Times
• When a reward isn't really a reward
  June 22, 2010
  L.A. Times
• APhA details pharmacy provisions in HCR law
  June 21, 2010
  PharmPro
• Rite Aid Workers Will Rally for Good Jobs Before Attending Company's Shareholder Meeting
  June 21, 2010
  StreetInsider.com
• Job Flash - 11 New Pharmacy Jobs
  May 18, 2010
  CPhA
• Astellas to Buy OSI Pharmaceuticals for $4 Billion
  May 18, 2010
  Wall Street Journal
• Pharmacist gets probation in drug-mislabeling case
  May 17, 2010
  Bloomberg Businessweek - AP
• CVS’ parent company names a new president and CEO
  May 17, 2010
  InternetRetailer.com
• Pharmacists find changed profession
  May 14, 2010
  STLtoday.com
• California Pharmacists Association Applauds Ruling by Federal Judge to Block Medi-Cal Cuts
  May 7, 2010
  PharmiWeb.com
• AMA President Criticizes Providing Pharmacists the Prescribing Rights
  May 4, 2010
  TopNews United States
• Electronic medical orders may save lives
  May 3, 2010
  Washington Post
• Best-Paying Jobs For Women
  May 3, 2010
  Forbes
• Buying Painkiller Becomes Difficult for Australians
  May 2, 2010
  TopNews United States
• Legislature approves bill to curb 'doctor shopping'
  May 2, 2010
  JSOnline
• Desperate addicts now targeting drug stores
  May 1, 2010
  SILive.com
• Valley native named top U.S. pharmacist
  May 1, 2010
  Fresno Bee
• Virginia pharmacy had plenty of moral convictions, few clients
  April 12, 2010
  Washington Post
• Tough medicine in store for Ontario’s pharmacists
  April 6, 2010
  The Globe and Mail
• Many With Arthritis Find Simple Solutions for Relief
  March 30, 2010
  Business Week
• U.S. Drug Move Said to Deprive Elderly
  March 24, 2010
  New York Times
• Drug assistance programs keep seniors on track
  March 22, 2010
  USA Today
• Pharmacists key to rising skin conditions
  March 22, 2010
  Pharmacy News
• Some drugstores fear stocking Oxycontin
  March 18, 2010
  Edmonton Sun
• Doctor-pharmacist collaboration needed
  March 12, 2010
  UPI.com
• Coalition wants pharmacists to play role in drug safety programs
  March 5, 2010
  Drug Store News
• Assisted suicide: 36 lethal doses taken in Washington in 2009
  March 5, 2010
  HeraldNet
• Takeda renames heartburn drug to avoid errors
  March 4, 2010
  The Associated Press
• Saskatchewan Enhances Patient Health Care Through Pharmacists
  March 3, 2010
  Gov Monitor
• Team to assist quake victims
  March 3, 2010
  MassLive.com
• Federal Officials Replace Management Team for U.S. Provider Database
  March 3, 2010
  California Healthline

 

• HotLine: 1-866-421-6047
• FaxLine: 1-909-476-7625
• E-mail:
• Your Union Representative

UPDATE - August 2010

Your employer has acknowledged their obligation to bargain with us for a separate pharmacists’ contract (their letter and our response). We anticipate negotiations will begin in November. Please print and complete the Contract Questionnaire so that your input can be included in our negotiation preparations.
Return the questionnaire by 9/17/2010 to the UFCW postal mailing address.

Letter to UFCW Members
August 26, 2010

Contract Questionnaire
August 27, 2010

UPDATE - July 2010

Your UFCW Local Union sent letters (see below) to your employer requesting that negotiations for the 2011 Pharmacist Collective Bargaining Agreement commence immediately.

WIth your strength and solidarity, we will succeed in bargaining a contract that addresses the issues unique to our pharmacist members.

Please e-mail us if you are interested in the Pharmacist contract advisory committee.

Letter to UFCW Members
July 1, 2010

Opening Letter to Albertsons
July 1, 2010

Opening Letter to Ralphs
July 1, 2010

Opening Letter to Vons
July 1, 2010

Meeting Minutes - Vons
July 9, 2010

Meeting Minutes - Albertsons
May 21, 2010

Meeting Minutes - Rite Aid
May 12, 2010

Vons PRC Meeting
• July 9, 2010 - Friday
• UFCW Local 324
• 10am - 12noon

Ralphs PRC Meeting
CANCELLED by Ralphs. New date TBD
• July 21, 2010 - Wednesday
• UFCW Local 324
• 10am - 12noon

If you are interested in attending a PRC meeting, please e-mail us at info@ufcwrx.com

Pharmacists should arrive at UFCW Local 324 by 9:45am to be briefed.

UFCW Local 324
8530 Stanton Avenue
Buena Park, CA 90620
714-995-4601

Rosalyn Hackworth, the Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW Local 135, is the new Public Member of California State Board of Pharmacy

UFCW Mailer (PDF:532kb)

The Rx Consultant eLibrary

• Over 35 practical drug therapy updates
• 50 CE Hours
• Provided by the UFCW to support your continuing education and professional growth.

• August 6, 2010
  A Message from CPhA CEO Lynn Rolston (new window)
• June 25, 2010
  A Message from CPhA CEO Lynn Rolston (new window)
• May 7, 2010
  A Special Memo From Lynn Rolston (new window)