Pharmacy professionals demand job protections, continuity of care, and accountability as layoffs loom at Bartell and Rite Aid locations
OLYMPIA, WA – As CVS prepapes for their hearing on the sale of the Rite Aid pharmacies today in bankruptcy court, The Pharmacy Guild/IAM, the national voice for pharmacy professionals, has issued a formal letter to the Washington State Employment Security Department urging immediate action to prevent layoffs following CVS Health’s acquisition of dozens of Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs locations across the state in anticipation of the sale’s approval.
In the letter, addressed to Workforce Initiatives Manager Donna Mack, the Guild expresses deep concern about the impact of the recent mass layoffs announced by Rite Aid amid its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On May 7, 2025, Rite Aid confirmed it would lay off 131 pharmacy professionals and store associates at Bartell Drugs locations throughout Washington. The closures follow the shuttering of at least eight stores in the state, with hundreds more at risk nationwide.
“These layoffs threaten patient access to frontline care and eliminate critical jobs in communities that rely on their local pharmacies,” said Shane Jerominski, cofounder of The Pharmacy Guild/IAM. “As CVS acquires these locations, it must commit to continuity of care and employment.”
The Guild called on the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) to investigate the acquisition and ensure CVS Health upholds its responsibilities to pharmacy professionals and patients. The organization’s letter outlines key demands to safeguard the workforce and maintain healthcare access:
- Prevent further layoffs at acquired locations.
- Protect current employees from having to reapply for their jobs.
- Offer employment to laid-off Bartell and Rite Aid pharmacy professionals to help address chronic understaffing.
- Begin immediate bargaining with union representatives to ensure fair transitions.
- Remain neutral in any union organizing efforts or elections.
The Guild also urged the ESD to enforce new protections under Washington’s SB 5525, which empowers the department to oversee compliance with the WARN Act and ensure that employees currently on Paid Family and Medical Leave are not laid off.
To reduce disruption to pharmacy services, the Guild employed the state to explore additional protective measures such as SharedWork programs, partial unemployment, and temporary standby options.
“This is a critical moment for both patient care and the livelihood of pharmacy professionals across Washington,” Jerominski added. “We are calling on CVS and the State of Washington to step up and ensure no pharmacy worker or patient is left behind.”
The Pharmacy Guild/IAM represents pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across the country and advocates for professional standards, safe patient care, and workplace rights.