California’s Working Pharmacists Express Concerns in Bill Reauthorizing the California Board of Pharmacy
Sacramento, CA – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation reauthorizing the California Board of Pharmacy, AB 1503 (Berman) into law. Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and all pharmacy staff have major concerns with the bill’s ratio of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians as California law requires pharmacists to directly supervise the work of pharmacy technicians. The following statement may be attributed to Amber Parrish, Executive Director, UFCW Western States Council:
“UFCW is a proud partner of the California Board of Pharmacy, but this bill outlining the scope of the board’s oversight of California’s pharmacists only causes more hardships for these hard-working professionals. Adding the supervision of more technicians means that pharmacists will be responsible for overseeing more tasks, stretching our state’s already overworked pharmacists to the brink and putting patients at risk.
“The ratio of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians in this bill is a clear strategy to hire more lower-paid pharmacy technicians while maintaining the current number of pharmacists to significantly increase the number of prescriptions being filled. This will only put our member pharmacists’ licenses on the line, worsen patient care at the pharmacy and lead to significant pharmacist job loss.
“The California Board of Pharmacy surveyed pharmacists, and results overwhelmingly showed a two-to-one ratio is appropriate. We are especially disappointed in a sunset review process that did not consider pharmacists’ opinions. The voices of the professionals Californians depend upon to ensure they get the right medicine must be heard in the process.
“UFCW’s priority is to ensure that pharmacists and pharmacy staff are able to handle the increased demand and workload in patient care without compromising quality care and safety. That’s why we adamantly oppose a ratio of three to one pharmacy technicians to a supervising pharmacist. We are committing to work with all stakeholders to ensure clean-up legislation advances next year that protects pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and the California public who get their health care from community pharmacies.”
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The United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council is the regional coordinating body of 11 UFCW local unions representing over 200,000 workers in California, Arizona and Nevada. The Council is a part of the 1.3 million-member strong UFCW International Union. UFCW members are standing together to improve the lives of workers, families, and communities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2025
Contact: Jenna Thompson, jthompson@ufcw324.org, 949.246.1620