Prolonged Aussie pharmacists strike in Victoria & SA could force temporary closure of some drugstores

The job walk-off by pharmacists in 53 National Pharmacies on Tuesday in two Australian states could result in temporary closure of the drugstores if the strike prolongs. The strike makes labour history since it is the first launched by pharmacists in Australia.

The employees of National Pharmacies in Victoria and South Australia are seeking a reduction in Saturday penalty rates and oppose the two-tiered wage scheme introduced by the company. Professional Pharmacists Australia, the union, says the scheme would decrease pay of new pharmacists by $4 an hour, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

Matt Harris, campaign director of the union, says hour-long strike on Tuesday morning, an unprecedented industrial action, is their last resort. However, if the deadlock would go on, some stores could close since the union has authority to strike up to 24 hours.

“Our employees do not want to work alongside colleagues with the same qualifications and experience, being paid $4 less per hour,” AJP.com quotes Harris. He says that the proposed rate could result in superficial cost saving, however, it would have a negative impact on workplace productivity and the pharmacist’s profession.

The store employees also refused to accept lower penalty rates for evening and weekend work. By working on Saturday and Sunday to ensure patients could purchase medicine, they sacrifice attending family occasions such as weddings, birthdays, school celebrations and sports competitions, so they must be properly compensated.

Pharmacy graduates earn a media starting salary of $44,300, according to data compiled by Graduate Careers Australia. It is the lowest of all graduate salaries, making pharmacists express genuine concern over building a career and living on that pay. These conditions result in fewer young people opting for a career as pharmacists.

National Pharmacies explains the penalty cut and two-tiered wage scheme to uncertainty in the marketplace and pressures of competition. The firm also cites changes in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that forced the drug-seller to align pay rates with the rest of the industry.

The company says it is still negotiating with the union for a new enterprise agreement. Such dealings requires responsible and reasonable steps to adjust to the changing pharmacy industry, it adds.