Grocery Workers Speak Out Against the Proposed Kroger and Albertsons Mega-Merger

good morning everyone my name is Jesse Crowley and I'm a Staff pharmacist at an Albertson's owned Pavilions Pharmacy in Los Angeles California I'm here today in Portland ahead of the Federal Trade Commission preliminary injunction hearing against the proposed Kroger Albertson Mega merger as a worker I stand here today United with my fellow workers across States As We join the FTC and the nine Attorneys General in including California's attorney general Rob B in efforts to block this merger I'm representing thousands of my fellow UFCW Local 770 Grocery and Pharmacy workers in Southern California whose lives will be negatively impact should this merger be allowed to proceed as our national stop the merger Coalition of UFCW Union locals has done for nearly 2 years I'm here to discuss the possible harmful consequences of this merger on workers consumers patients and our communities I want to focus on the proposed Kroger Albertson's Mega merger and their store divesture PL potentially devastating impact on access to medications and Pharmacy Services if the Kroger Albertson's merger were to move forward it will further reduce competition limiting options to where patients can get affordable Pharmacy Services as a pharmacist I fear the consolidation of Kroger Albertson's into one one company will have the unintended consequence of reducing patient access to medication Pharmacy is a complicated business so complicated that even Pharmacies with Decades of experience are struggling to keep their doors open across our country CNS wholesale grossers have extremely limited experience in Pharmacy making it highly unlikely that the divesture plan will succeed I've witnessed firsthand the challenges patients face when access to prescriptions is limited if the merger is allowed to move forward choices will no will narrow disproportionately affecting lowincome communities of color history shows us that we can't trust merger promises and the wholesale retail transformation is risky competition is essential for maintaining medication access especially during Times Like These when we're seeing some of the highest drug shortages of all time let's be clear the mega merger will negatively impact retail workers ERS small suppliers independent chains and communities already facing challenges with food and medication access as a union worker in California in one of the only areas in the country where pharmacists are unionized I'm also concerned that the merger will weaken our bargaining power for better working conditions wages and benefits as a dedicated pharmacist who has devoted her life to caring for patients I strongly oppose the Kroger Albertson's merger I'm hopeful this proposed Mega merger will be blocked by the US District Court we know this legal process will take several weeks in the meantime I urge anyone who buys food and medicine to join me and my fellow workers in continued opposition of the proposed Mega merger to protect our jobs our stores Pharmacy access and prevent further harm to our communities thank you