By Mickie Cathers | March 2024
During the fall of 2023, pharmacy personnel staged walkouts at Walgreens and CVS stores citing unhealthy and unjust working conditions that put patient safety at risk. These protests by pharmacists and pharmacy personnel, which also included pharmacy labor advocates, led to the launch of the Pharmacy Guild, a formal unionization effort for pharmacy workers.
In response to the walkouts, companies such as Walgreens and CVS have said they are committed to developing sustainable action plans to support both pharmacists and patients. However, the pace of change can be slow.
“I absolutely value and support the work of our associations in this battle to improve working conditions. But the recent walkout events have proven that pharmacists and technicians needed a protective voice when standing up to fight for themselves and their patients,” said Bled Tanoe, PharmD, founder of #PizzaIsNotWorking and union advocate. “Having the support of a union will probably ensure a strong hold in fighting for better working conditions.”
Read the full story at Pharmacist.com