Employees at Walgreens and CVS, two of the largest drugstore chains in the US, are planning a series of walkouts to protest against harsh working conditions that they say pose a risk to customer health. The walkouts are in response to burdensome prescription and vaccination expectations placed on pharmacists by corporate management. Employees argue that staffing levels are far lower than what is required and that training cuts have been made. Walgreens has denied the existence of corporate quotas and claims to have made significant investments in its pharmacy team, whilst CVS has apologised to pharmacy staff and promised additional support. The walkouts follow a series of successful labor strikes across the US this year.
Pharmacy employees have long faced difficult working conditions, but the pandemic has exacerbated these issues. Employees have cited severe understaffing, low pay, high vaccination quotas, abuse from management, and violence from customers. Inspired by successful labor strikes in other sectors, employees have organised the walkouts as part of what some are calling “pharmageddon.” CVS pharmacists previously staged walkouts in the Kansas City area, resulting in meetings with executives and promises of increased support and overtime pay. Employees at both Walgreens and CVS have been in touch with union groups, indicating that future walkouts are likely.
Pharmacists are not demanding significant pay increases or vacation time. Instead, they are asking for more support to carry out their tasks safely and efficiently. Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers also recently walked off the job, highlighting similar issues in the healthcare sector. As of now, neither CVS nor Walgreens pharmacists are unionized, but the recent protests have led to increased contact with union groups. The walkouts are expected to continue as pharmacy employees demand improved working conditions and patient care.
