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Pharmacists, cashiers, and other workers at Southern California Rite Aid stores -- who have been working under an expired contract since July 15 -- are now voting on whether to strike after the pharmacy chain proposed a contract which would, among other elements, eliminate health and welfare benefits for current and future retirees and increase workers' expenses for health care coverage. The 6,000 workers, represented by United Food and Commercial Workers, began their vote yesterday; the two sides are scheduled to negotiate in early August.