Walgreens Pharmacy Staff Organizing Nationwide Walkout
March 09, 2023
A woman walks near a Walgreens pharmacy on March 09, 2023 in New York City.
Pharmacy staff from Walgreens are laying the groundwork for a nationwide walkout and multiple rallies at the end of October to protest unsatisfactory working conditions, and are in talks with employees from other retail pharmacies about joining them, CNBC has learned.
Those efforts, still in the planning stages, reflect the growing discontent among retail pharmacy staff, who have complained for years about understaffed teams and increasing work expectations imposed by corporate management. The Covid pandemic has only exacerbated those issues, as new duties like testing and vaccination stretched pharmacists and technicians even thinner.
Recently, some Walgreens and CVS pharmacy staff participated in separate walkouts, highlighting the frustrations faced by retail pharmacy staff. These demonstrations add to what has been one of the most active years for the labor movement in recent U.S. history.
The walkouts are scheduled for October 30 to November 1. Pharmacy staff from other retail chains have been approached to join the walkout, with nationwide walkouts seen as the “next step” in the fight against current working conditions.
Walgreens, in response to the walkouts held this week, stated that they have been listening to the concerns of their pharmacy staff and have been making investments in wages and hiring bonuses to retain pharmacists in hard-to-staff locations.
CVS is also considering joining the nationwide walkout effort. The outcome of a meeting with Prem Shah, the company’s chief pharmacy officer and president of pharmacy and consumer wellness, will determine whether CVS pharmacy staff will participate.
Pharmacy staff participating in the nationwide effort would hold demonstrations outside the stores as part of the walkout.
In addition to the walkouts, organizers are considering pushing for unionization of pharmacy staff not currently represented by one. Talks are ongoing with multiple existing unions.
Retail pharmacy staff have raised concerns about unreasonable demands, understaffing, and lack of resources, which they believe put patients at risk. They are asking for improved working conditions and more support from company management.
The recent rollout of new vaccines has added to the workload of pharmacy staff, with an influx of vaccine appointments and tensions with customers.
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