Pharmacists Speak Out. Companies Refuse to Move

Real stories. Real demands. A quarter is not enough.

Today, we, the pharmacists on the bargaining committee, made it clear the current conditions are not sustainable and the offer we received yesterday from Ralphs and Albertsons doesn’t cut it. 

We stood in front of the companies to speak about our struggles to meet growing demands while representing our companies in our communities. We shared our anger and frustration with the conflicting demands of filling prescriptions, answering phones, and managing patient care without adequate ancillary support. We also shared the challenges inherent in providing the many new clinical and specialty services to our communities, including drug rehabilitation programs and assisted living facilities. 

Our message was consistent. It is hard to keep up. Staffing is insufficient. Wages are not keeping up with inflation or the level of responsibility pharmacists carry. This is not just a job. It is a profession, and it deserves to be treated like one.

After hearing these realities, the companies only added $0.25  to their insulting offer from yesterday. The new offer is $1.00 in the first year, $1.00 in the second, and $1.00 in the third which is still barely above 1% per year. 

Ralphs and Albertsons are not improving their offer because they believe we will not push back and they can continue to take advantage of us.

What happens next depends on all of us.

What's next

Currently union representatives, bargaining committee members and SPURs are in our stores gathering petitions. This is an important way to show the companies that we are willing to fight for wages that reflect our professional knowledge and role in the companies. This is our opportunity to show that EVERY pharmacist is standing together for what we deserve. If you or your co-workers haven’t signed the petition, reach out to your union representative. 

Bargaining resumes Friday, April 17, and we’ll send you another update then. In the meantime, let’s continue to pressure. Sign the petition. Talk to your co-workers. Wear your buttons. Show the companies we are united and ready to fight for the contract we deserve.

In Solidarity,

Your UFCW Pharmacist Bargaining Committee