A tectonic shift in mindsets is inciting non-union pharmacists and other healthcare workers to protest, according to a recent report by The New York Times. In October and November, dozens of CVS and Walgreens workers organized walkouts and labor actions to draw attention to severe understaffing and unmanageable demands. While the walkouts had minimal disruptions and closures, the organizers are now working towards unionization, a previously unheard-of labor action in the healthcare industry.
Historically, healthcare workers felt a sense of pride and public praise for their work, which made unionization unnecessary. However, recent years have seen a growing tension between employees and management, as consolidations in the industry have led to bigger bureaucracies. Healthcare workers are increasingly feeling like mere cogs in a wheel, and a sense of class consciousness has emerged, highlighting the disconnect between their needs and their employers’ interests.
The New York Times spoke with Ed Smith, a pharmacist at CVS since the late 1990s. Smith initially experienced what he describes as a workplace democracy, with well-staffed stores and ample time to build relationships with patients. However, after becoming a district manager overseeing multiple stores, Smith resigned in 2015 because he felt uncomfortable overseeing inadequate working conditions for his co-workers. Smith played a role in organizing a labor effort in Kansas City, Missouri, where 10 locations briefly closed when two dozen workers called in sick to protest their working conditions.
According to several retail chain pharmacists, the focus on strict performance metrics has eclipsed employee satisfaction and overall profits. CVS claims that it is attentive to its employees’ concerns and is actively investing in its workforce. In late 2022, Walgreens announced that it would eliminate task-based metrics. However, these assurances have not fully assuaged the concerns of protesters.
Interestingly, the Doctors Council, the country’s oldest and largest union of attending physicians, is now fielding requests from pharmacists for the first time since its establishment in the 1970s. It appears that the growing discontent among pharmacists has prompted them to seek solidarity with other healthcare professionals.
While not all pharmacists are participating in the protests, it is clear that a significant number are voicing their dissatisfaction. The issues at the heart of the demonstrations revolve around excessive workloads, insufficient staffing, and a feeling of being undervalued. The ever-increasing demands on pharmacists and the strain this places on their ability to provide quality care have become a rallying point for these non-unionized healthcare workers.
As these protests continue to unfold, it remains to be seen if the call for unionization in the healthcare industry will gain momentum. The grievances expressed by non-union pharmacists and other healthcare workers shed light on the challenges they face in an environment where profit margins and bureaucracy often overshadow the wellbeing of those on the frontlines of patient care. Whether or not these protests lead to substantial changes, they serve as a potent reminder that the voices of non-union healthcare workers are demanding to be heard.
