The Pharmacy Guild/IAM celebrates its second election win at a Safeway pharmacy in Washington state, with plans for additional stores
Seattle, Washington — Pharmacy professionals at the Covington Safeway have won their union election and officially joined The Pharmacy Guild/IAM (TPG/IAM). This marks the third pharmacy in Washington state to unionize with TPG/IAM, and the second Safeway pharmacy to do so. The Covington store includes five pharmacy technicians and one pharmacist who are now proud members of the union.
“We work hard to make sure prescriptions are accurate, safe, and ready — day in and day out,” said Sue Gratton, a pharmacy technician with 27 years of experience. “We’re excited to now have the opportunity to bargain for the tools and staffing we need to care for our patients. This is a great next step in protecting our profession and the people who rely on us.”
The pharmacy professionals at the Maple Valley Safeway were the first in the state to file to join The Guild back in February, and voted overwhelmingly in March to unionize. Now, with Covington joining them, the movement for safer, more sustainable pharmacy workplaces in Washington continues to build.
Like many unionized stores, the Covington pharmacy team is focused on winning strong contract protections, including safe staffing measures and improved patient care standards. An estimated 1.5 million Americans are harmed each year by medication errors — many linked to chronic understaffing and burnout. According to estimates from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 7,000 to 9,000 Americans die annually due to preventable medication errors.
“Every day, pharmacy teams go above and beyond to keep patients safe — even when we’re stretched thin,” said Maurice Shaw, national co-founder of The Pharmacy Guild. “Bringing Covington into the union strengthens our movement. This is how we raise the standard of care — by giving pharmacy professionals a real voice.”
The Pharmacy Guild is becoming one of the most powerful forces for change in the pharmacy profession. Across the country, pharmacy professionals in all types of practice settings are organizing to protect patients and demand a real voice in decisions that impact their work and care.