Properly Informed Consciences Trump Self Interest?; Cold Front Moves Toward Hell

I didn't even know there was such a thing as a pharmacists' union.

Between 120 and 200 of Walgreens' 1,200 Chicago area staff pharmacists resigned from their union rather than participate in a strike, as talks between the union and the drugstore chain stalled Thursday.

The resignations reflect "an alarming disconnect between union leadership and our in-store pharmacists," said Michael Polzin, a spokesman for the Deerfield-based company.

Walgreens pharmacists in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana walked off their jobs at 10 p.m. Wednesday, complaining of inadequate staffing levels and a lack of trained technicians.

Walgreens and the National Pharmacists Association negotiated with the help of a federal mediator Thursday afternoon, but they were unable to reach an agreement, and no further talks are scheduled.

The company and the union dispute how many pharmacists have crossed picket lines -- with the company saying the number is more than 200, and the union saying it's closer to 10 percent, or 120.

Union head Chuck Sauer said Walgreens management "continues to turn a deaf ear to the concerns of its pharmacists over patient safety."

"This is another example of a large company putting profits ahead of patients," said Sauer, who added that the company is trying to break the union.

Mayer Freed, a law professor from Northwestern University and an expert on employment law, noted that 200 out of 1,200 is "well less than a majority."

"I don't know that I would call that a mortal blow to the union's support," Freed said. "The question is over time whether that number will increase."
Walgreens is keeping all of its pharmacies open, but with reduced hours, during the strike.

Of its approximately 100 24-hour pharmacies in the affected area, 13 will now stay open around the clock during the strike, compared with seven before the union resignations, Polzin said.

Patients are asked to call their individual pharmacy for hours. The pharmacies are being staffed by pharmacy managers, who are not part of the union, and technicians.

Polzin said company pharmacists and technicians are expressing "grave disappointment in the way union leadership is distorting Walgreens leadership in pharmacy safety."

The union says the dispute is not over salary. Staff pharmacists have been offered a 20 percent pay raise over four years, with pay rising to more than $100,000 by the second year of the contract. (Thanks to the Chicago Sun-Times and CNSNews.)

I'd like to think those who resigned from the union did so because they think their patients are more important.

That's how you can tell I'm a sunshine and gumdrops optomist.