CVS and Walgreens say pharmacist work action had minimal impact
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[November 02, 2023]
(Reuters) - CVS Health Corp and Walgreens Boots Alliance on
Wednesday said that a work action by some U.S. pharmacists this week had
minimal impact on operations, with most stores remaining open.
CVS Chief Executive Karen Lynch said in an interview that employees had
called in sick at a few stores this week, but there were no store
closures or disruptions to shifts due to the action. The company has
about 30,000 pharmacists across stores and operates over 9,000 retail
locations.
A Walgreens spokesperson told Reuters that the walkout - dubbed "Pharmageddon"
and largely planned on social media platforms such as Meta's Facebook -
had little impact and that only three pharmacies were closed temporarily
over the past three days.
The spokesperson said no pharmacies in the United States were closed on
Wednesday, which was to be the final day of the walkout. Walgreens
operated 8,701 retail pharmacy stores in the United States as of Aug.
31, 2023.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Nov/02/images/ads/current/danieleeten_sda_FFARM_2023.png)
Shane Jerominski, a former Walgreens pharmacist and one of the
organizers of the walkout, told Reuters on Monday that as many as 5,000
pharmacy workers would walk out across the three days. The goal was to
push companies to improve working conditions and add more staff to their
store.
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![](../images/110223PIX/health25.jpg)
A small number of employees and supporters picket outside the
headquarters of drugstore chain Walgreens during a three-day walkout
by pharmacists in Deerfield, Illinois, U.S. November 1, 2023.
REUTERS/Vincent Alban
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Nov/02/images/ads/current/peasley_lda_051513.png) CVS's Lynch said the company has
spent about $1 billion on improving wages for pharmacists and
pharmacy technicians.
Jerominski added that the exact number of affected stores and
participating staff was not clear due to the lack of a union.
He said the organizers were also seeking better pay and more
consistent hours for technicians, who locate, dispense, pack and
label prescribed medication for patients under the supervision of
pharmacists.
(Reporting by Leroy Leo and Pratik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by
Caroline Humer and Anil D'Silva)
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