Employees of the Walgreens pharmacy chain are walking out from October 9-11, potentially causing some branches to close temporarily across the United States, as reported by ABC7 Chicago. The protest has arisen due to grievances related to poor working conditions which critics suggest are impacting the chain's ability to maintain safe prescription and customer service standards.
According to CNN, an organizer of the walkout who asked to remain anonymous, says that the protest stems from unmanageable prescription and vaccination expectations from corporate management, including chronic understaffing, below-par pay, high-volume prescription and vaccination requirements, and a prioritization of speed over the quality of prescription care.
Allegedly, employees at over 500 out of 9,000 Walgreens stores in the U.S. have expressed support for the walkout. However, participation might be lower; CNN interviewed employees from only three Walgreens stores, each in different states, who expressed an intention to take part in the walkout. The potential impact of the strike is unpredictable due to the absence of a union leader. Rather, employees have been utilizing Reddit, Facebook, email, and fliers to organize the protest. Some regional leaders were asked to ensure their pharmacies remain open on Monday with minimum personnel.
This protest occurs following rising reports of pharmacy staff burnout. A survey by the American Pharmacists Association and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations last year revealed that pharmacy employees are overwhelmed by the demand for prescriptions, vaccinations, and other services, with insufficient staff to cope. Concerningly, the study also indicated a lack of channels for personnel to communicate workplace issues with supervisors or management.
Amanda Applegate of the Kansas Pharmacists Association has raised concerns regarding this strike's potential impact on public health due to a potential shortfall in access to medication and prescription services. In contrast, others argue that continuing to work under current conditions is even more detrimental to public health.
Fraser Engerman, Communications Director at Walgreens, issued a statement acknowledging the concerns raised by the workers. He stated that the company is "committed to ensuring that our entire pharmacy team has the support and resources necessary to continue to provide the best care to our patients while taking care of their own well-being." He added that considerable investments are being made in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses, especially in locations with staffing challenges.
Following the closure of up to 22 CVS pharmacies due to protests over two weeks, CVS executives assured staff of upcoming reinforcements and increased overtime pay. As per a CNN-reviewed internal CVS memo, an additional meeting with CVS's Chief Pharmacy Officer and President of Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, Prem Shah, is scheduled for later this week.
