Pharmacy employees at select Walgreens stores in the United States are planning a walkout in response to what they perceive as burdensome work expectations. The walkout is expected to take place between Monday and Wednesday, with some employees participating for one day and others closing their pharmacies for the entire duration. The employees, including pharmacists, technicians, and support staff, are reportedly unhappy with the prescription and vaccination demands placed on pharmacists. Walgreens has stated that it is actively engaged and listening to the concerns raised by its team members, and it is making efforts to attract and retain talent by increasing wages and offering hiring bonuses in harder-to-staff locations.
This planned walkout comes on the heels of a major strike in the healthcare sector by Kaiser Permanente, where 75,000 nurses, medical technicians, and support staff walked off the job for 72 hours. However, the strike recently ended as both parties agreed to resume contract negotiations. Despite the resolution, union officials have warned of the possibility of further walkouts. The walkout at Walgreens is part of a larger trend where employees in various industries are expressing their discontent and demanding better working conditions.
It remains to be seen how the walkout will affect Walgreens operations and whether it will lead to any meaningful changes in the company’s policies and practices. The grievances raised by the pharmacy employees highlight the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare workers and the growing push for improved working conditions and fair treatment in the industry.
