TRENTON, NJ – Walgreens employees are planning a walkout this week and while at this point, three states have confirmed they will participate, others are considering a show of solidarity.
If that happens, your prescription access could be affected depending on how many workers walk out in a planned 72-hour move.
Pharmacy staff, including pharmacists, technicians, and support personnel at select U.S. Walgreens locations, intend to stage a walkout between Monday and Wednesday, according to a CNN report. Employees in three states mentioned plans varying from a one-day walkout to shutting down their pharmacies for the full three days.
This action stems from the pharmacy employees’ concerns regarding demanding prescription and vaccination expectations placed on them.
Although Reuters was unable to directly contact the involved employees for comments, Walgreens issued an email statement expressing their engagement with the issues raised by some team members. The company emphasized, “We are making significant investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses to attract/retain talent in harder to staff locations.”
This incident follows closely on the heels of a major U.S. healthcare sector strike, where 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers, including nurses, medical technicians, and support staff, staged a 72-hour walkout at hospitals and clinics.
The strike, which concluded on Friday, marked a pivotal moment in U.S. healthcare labor disputes. As contract negotiations recommence between Kaiser Permanente and the striking workers, union officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of more walkouts in the future.