Featured Steward

 

Living the dream
Union is key to longevity for Nancy Ponce


Nancy Ponce, a 35-year union veteran, union steward and pricing accuracy coordinator at Rite Aid 5693 in Colton, knows a thing or two about longevity. “When I started, ice cream was 5 cents for a single scoop, 10 cents for a double and 15 cents for a triple, and I thought I was making bank at $3.25 an hour,” she said with a laugh. “Wow, times have changed!”

Indeed, times have changed throughout Ponce’s 27 years at her store in Colton. When she began her career, she operated cash registers where prices had to be entered manually. She had to “ring up” checks and use a calculator.

“Back then, if we made a mistake, we had to start all over, and it took forever,” Ponce said.

The times and technology have changed since then, but one aspect of her job that hasn't changed is her love for her work.

“I absolutely love my job because I get to interact with a lot of people,” she said. “This job made me a ‘people person’ and I’m a better person because of it.”

Gotta have faith

Unfortunately, Rite Aid’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year means Ponce’s store is closing in March, but she has no plans to retire quite yet.

“Bargaining is coming up in the summer and I’m supposed to be placed somewhere,” she said. “I’m not worried because I have the union protecting me.”

One of the reasons she’s not worried is union solidarity.

“We have worked our whole lives,” she said. “We’ve given up family time and we’ve sacrificed a lot. Sure, we got paid, but we deserve what we deserve and the companies will try to take advantage. We must stick together to make sure we get what we deserve and what is due!”

In addition to her strong faith in the union, she is also strong in her faith. In 2019, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in her brain and lungs. With the help of prayer, chemotherapy and radiation, she was able to overcome the grave diagnosis.

“President Joe Duffle, when he was my union rep, would come visit me and encourage me and pray with me,” she said. “All my doctors also prayed with me, and that meant so much.”

Ponce is proud to say that in the year she was in treatment for her cancer, she never took time off work.

Currently, her brain cancer is gone, but some cancer has returned in both of her lungs. She remains optimistic that she’ll beat the disease again.

“One thing I know for sure is that our union insurance is amazing,” Ponce said. “I never used my benefits like I did before I got cancer.”

In her personal time, Ponce is active in her church and women’s group. She takes health and wellness classes and has learned to eat a healthier diet.

Ponce also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren by attending soccer games and going to the movies often.

She said she is ‘absolutely blessed’ to have three wonderful grown children Corina, Alexis and Joseph, as well as her “grandbabies” Johnnie, 14; Jenny, 2; Joseph, 2 and a half, and Everly, 8 months.

“I love and cherish every moment I spend with them!” she said.

Nancy Ponce