Walgreens Pharmacy Workers Walk Off the Job, Protesting Overwork and Underpay

Pharmacy workers at Walgreens have staged a walkout protesting against being overworked and underpaid. The workers say that the demands being placed on them are too much to handle and pose potential dangers to customers. Pharmacists are expected to fill 100 prescriptions per hour with just one filling technician. In addition to this workload, pharmacists are also expected to administer vaccinations every 15 minutes. The workers stated that the pressure and workload have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with Walgreens planning to add more vaccines to the technicians’ responsibilities. The increased workload can lead to mistakes in filling prescriptions, which could have serious consequences for customers’ health. Some pharmacy employees have already walked out of Walgreens stores, with similar protests leading to the closure of several CVS pharmacies. Walgreens has acknowledged the concerns raised by its team members and has pledged to hire more workers and increase wages. The Oklahoma Pharmacists Association is also seeking ways to improve the industry and encouraging pharmacists to join and make a difference. CVS pharmacists have also conducted walkouts, citing severe understaffing, low pay, high vaccination quotas, and abusive management as reasons for their protests. These walkouts are part of a larger movement of pharmacy workers across the country calling for better working conditions and patient care.