Hundreds of Walgreens pharmacy workers throughout the US to stroll off the job claiming working situations are placing affected person lives in danger

Walgreens workers, pharmacists, technicians and help workers are set to stroll off their jobs subsequent week in protest of situations they are saying threaten affected person well being and security. 

The protests are set to begin on October 9 and run till October 11. Staff have the choice of protesting nonetheless lengthy they like between the three days, organizers say.   

It’s being completed in response to what pharmacy workers name ‘burdensome prescription and vaccination expectations.’ 

Staff at greater than 500 of Walgreens’ 9,000 shops throughout the nation have expressed curiosity and solidarity in direction of ‘Operation Highlight.’

‘My pharmacy has traditionally been high of the chain however these company calls for are unrealistic and unfair to us and to our sufferers,’ one worker wrote in a social-media submit in regards to the protests. 

Hundreds of workers are set to stroll out of shops in protest of burdensome prescription and vaccination expectations

One worker took to social media to protest the working situations and arrange the stroll out 

Staff at greater than 500 of Walgreens’ 9,000 shops throughout the nation have expressed curiosity and solidarity in direction of ‘Operation Highlight’

One Walgreens worker took to Reddit to clarify the scenario of their pharmacy. 

They wrote: ‘ I’ve spent hours explaining to sufferers why we scheduled them an appointment for a vaccine we did not have. I’ve additionally given over 100 vaccines in a day all on my own whereas 600+ leaflets lay on the counter.

‘I’ve requested for assist and voiced my issues simply as you may have. They name you all whiners and inform you that you simply aren’t “assembly expectations.” When will they meet our expectations? When will they offer us the help to satisfy the expectations of our sufferers?’

The unnamed Reddit person additionally goes into element about what different workers can do within the protest, which incorporates contacting their native Board of Pharmacy and information channels. 

‘Contact your native Board of Pharmacy instantly! There may be nothing Walgreens can do to punish you for reporting security issues. There are whistleblower protections in each state. 

‘Report this insanity. Report the inhumane working situations. Report the negligence and abuse our sufferers are experiencing. Report the hazards our sufferers face as a result of unsafe surroundings Walgreens has created. 

‘Name your native information and allow them to know what is occurring. Nameless is ok, on digital camera, even higher. You’re protected as a whistleblower. I have already got a serious information outlet interview lined up. Attain out yourselves. Let’s make this massive.’ 

 One other Reddit person offers steps on how workers can contact their native Board of Pharmacy

 ‘There have been nights the place I’ve been on the verge of tears due to how exhausting it’s. I had a affected person give me a fist bump and inform me I used to be doing a great job, and that meant a lot to me. The sufferers are caring extra about us than the employer is,’ stated one pharmacist

Walgreens stated in an emailed response that it was engaged and listening to issues raised by a few of its staff members

One other Reddit person offers steps on how workers can contact their native Board of Pharmacy. 

He wrote: ‘I believe everyone knows at this level that Walgreens is just not going to vary by itself. In that vein, I would love you to place strain on our boards of pharmacy. These establishments are put in place to make sure our sufferers are protected.’

Walgreens stated in an emailed response that it was engaged and listening to issues raised by a few of its staff members. 

‘We’re making vital investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses to draw/retain expertise in tougher to workers areas,’ the corporate stated. 

One pharmacist informed CNN: ‘There have been nights the place I’ve been on the verge of tears due to how exhausting it’s. I had a affected person give me a fist bump and inform me I used to be doing a great job, and that meant a lot to me. The sufferers are caring extra about us than the employer is.’

This comes every week after CVS agreed to spice up hiring in its shops to ease workloads that have been typically making it exhausting for workers to take a toilet break. 

Pharmacists in not less than a dozen Kansas Metropolis-area CVS pharmacies didn’t present up for work in September and deliberate to be out once more till the corporate despatched its chief pharmacy officer with guarantees to fill open positions and enhance staffing ranges.

It was one of many newest examples nationwide of staff fed up enough to take motion. However in contrast to within the ongoing strikes on the automakers or in Hollywood, the pharmacists weren’t demanding raises or extra trip, however extra staff to assist them.

It is unclear why workload issues which are widespread industrywide led to a piece stoppage in Kansas Metropolis. The pharmacists concerned will not be in a union and have not spoken publicly so it is not solely clear how happy they’re with the corporate’s response.