As 4,500 pharmacists walk out nationwide, Ozarks pharmacies are unaffected
Pharmacists across the nation have launched their third and largest walkout, protesting working conditions inside the largest retail chains. Organizers estimate 4,500 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are participating in the three-day movement, dubbed "Pharmageddon."
The protest began Monday. The walk-outs at various pharmacies, including CVS and Walgreens, are set to run for three days. Currently, no Springfield CVS or Walgreens pharmacies have been impacted.
Those taking part in the walkout told USA Today that they are taking this dramatic action to draw attention to their plight and the danger it poses for patients. Chain pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens have consistently slashed staffing levels while saddling their front-line workers with a burgeoning list of additional duties. A USA TODAY investigation last month found that while the situation was bad before the pandemic, COVID-19 made it worse.
Springfield CVS pharmacies unaffected by the national walkout
None of the CVS locations in the Ozarks have been affected. All pharmacies are open and hours are unchanged.
"We’re serving patients across our footprint today and we're not seeing any unusual activity regarding unplanned pharmacy closures or pharmacist walkouts. We’re committed to providing access to consistent, safe, high-quality health care to the patients and communities we serve and are engaging in a continuous two-way dialogue with our pharmacists to directly address any concerns they have," said Amy Thibault, a CVS communications director, in an email.
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In late September, a walkout in the Kansas City metro area closed an estimated 22 locations. Pharmacists there told USA Today they initiated the walkout after a Kansas City-based manager was fired because he refused to force pharmacists to close their own stores on the weekends so they could pitch in at other short-staffed locations.
According to USA Today reporting, Thibault did not acknowledge the walkout or address the organizers' allegations at the time of the September walkout and said the closures were "due to unexpected staff issues."
Ozarks Walgreens not affected by walkout
None of the Walgreens in the Ozarks area were closed today due to walkouts. The only Walgreens nationwide affected was one in Washington, according to Marty Maloney, a spokesman for Walgreens. Maloney also noted that he was unaware of any Missouri pharmacies being affected.
All pharmacies are open and most hours were unchanged. The only exception was the Walgreens in Nixa, 106 N. Massey Blvd., which is closing at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, rather than 11 p.m.
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"Our leaders are in our pharmacies regularly, listening to concerns and frustrations and responding to feedback. We have taken steps over the last two years to improve pharmacists’ experience, advance the profession and enable them to provide the high value care they were trained to do. Nearly all of our 25,000 pharmacists continue to serve their customers and communities this week, and we thank them for it," Maloney said.
In early October, several hundred Walgreens pharmacists and pharmacy technicians walked out across the nation. There are nearly 9,000 Walgreens locations across the U.S.
Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: CVS, Walgreens locations in Ozarks not affected by national walkouts
