Area Walgreens pharmacists still at work
Oct. 10—A national three-day walkout planned by some Walgreens pharmacists for Monday through Wednesday has not affected the five locations in Anniston, Oxford and Jacksonville.
Phone calls to all five on Tuesday found pharmacists still on the job.
"We just decided to come on in," said the one pharmacist who would comment on the walkout but did not want to be identified by name.
Media reports say the walkout was being organized because many Walgreens pharmacy employees were complaining about burdensome prescription and vaccination expectations.
All five Calhoun County locations were continuing to offer vaccination times for all three days of the proposed walkout.
National media reports said organizers had projected the walkout to affect more than 500 of the chain's 9,000 stores with one organizer telling national media fewer than that were expected to participate.
In a statement released Saturday, Walgreens admitted its pharmacy employees being overworked.
"The last few years have required an unprecedented effort from our team members, and we share their pride in this work — while recognizing it has been a very challenging time," said Fraser Engerman, a communications director at Walgreens. "We also understand the immense pressures felt across the U.S. in retail pharmacy right now. We are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members."
Engerman said in the statement that the company was committed to giving its pharmacy employees "the support and resources necessary."
This is not the first threatened walkout of pharmacists in the nation.
More than 22 CVS pharmacies in the Kansas City area had two walkouts in two weeks during September, forcing executives to travel to the area to assure those employees more support and better wages were coming.
Staff Writer Brian Graves: 256-236-1551.
