The "Nationwide Sick-Out / Walkout" By Pharmacists Working At The Largest Chain Drugstores... Was Largely Ineffectual.

Please do not misunderstand. I completely agree with the view the organizers of "Pharmageddon" expressed: the largest retail chain drugstores treat their generally excellent and well-trained pharmacists. . . abysmally.

And something needs to be done, as the mega-chains report record profits, and the professionals are treated like chattels. But a voluntary three day walkout, without a union at all -- is of little moment.

Perhaps what is needed, is a true Amazon / Chris Smalls organizing drive at CVS and Wags and (the likely disappearing) Rite-Aid (the latter now filing bankruptcy over its opioids debacle). Here's at least one assessment of the week's events:

. . .CVS Health Corp and Walgreens Boots Alliance on Wednesday said that a work action by some U.S. pharmacists this week had minimal impact on operations, with most stores remaining open. CVS Chief Executive Karen Lynch said in an interview that employees had called in sick at a few stores this week, but there were no store closures or disruptions to shifts due to the action. The company has about 30,000 pharmacists across stores and operates over 9,000 retail locations. . . .

It would seem that the time of unionizing. . . is returning -- after decades of excess, from fecklessly vengeful middle managements, not yet born when the labor actions of the the 1940s reshaped American working life. But ignorance here is no excuse. Onward.

नमस्ते