Walgreens Pharmacists Plan Protest In Romeoville: Union

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Hundreds of local Walgreens pharmacists are planning a monthlong protest for better pay and working conditions. They'll head to Romeoville for a demonstration April 26.

The nearly 900 workers are represented by the National Pharmacists Association, which noted that Walgreens pharmacists have only received a 2 percent wage increase — despite inflation driving up costs 25 percent, over the last seven years.

The union said that the CEO of Walgreens-to-worker pay ratio is currently 407 to 1.1. Calling pharmacists "a key but unacknowledged profit driver," NPhA said 74 percent of Walgreens' sales came from pharmacy and 26 percent came from retail in 2023.

Since last year, WBA has been slashing corporate jobs and closing some buildings as well as a shipping plant as part of a $1 billion cost-cutting plan, Patch reported.

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"Despite the fact that we are essential workers that helped this country come out of the COVID crisis, Walgreens continues to exploit us," Joe Pignataro, NPhA-LIUNA president and a full-time Walgreens' pharmacist, said in a statement released to Patch. "We should be given a fair wage increase that reflects our contributions to the company. We also want more consistent and reliable scheduling, and more staff support with proper training."

The "Phed Up Pharmacists Tour" will be demonstrating at two to three Walgreens stores every weekday for the next four weeks, with a stop in Romeoville from 2-4 p.m. April 26 at 498 N. Weber Road. Started Thursday, the program will end with a demonstration and press conference May 10 at Walgreens' headquarters in Deerfield.

Walgreens Boots Alliance, the parent company of Walgreens, said the demonstrations are not currently disrupting the company's operations.