IAM Healthcare and The Pharmacy Guild/IAM, with support from the 600,000-member IAM Union, hosted the first Professional Power Conference in Palm Springs, Calif., according to a May 5 announcement. The event brought together pharmacists and healthcare professionals from across the United States and Canada to focus on issues such as safe staffing, patient care, workplace standards, and collective power.
The conference was held under the theme “Professional Power in Action” and marked a significant step for healthcare professionals seeking to build their influence within their workplaces. Many attendees were new to unions and organizing efforts. They gathered with goals of achieving respect on the job, having a voice at work, ensuring safe staffing levels, upholding strong patient protections, and maintaining high standards of care.
Momentum in pharmacy sector organizing has increased since the 2023 “Pharmageddon” walkouts by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians at major retail chains. Those actions protested unsafe staffing conditions that put patient care at risk. This activism led to the creation of The Pharmacy Guild/IAM—the first national union formed by pharmacy professionals themselves.
“IAM Healthcare and The Pharmacy Guild/IAM are about building something real for working professionals who have been pushed to the brink,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Healthcare workers are stepping up and saying enough is enough—enough short staffing, enough corporate pressure, enough putting profits over patients. We’re building a movement so healthcare professionals finally get the respect, resources and voice they deserve.”
Chris Eggeman of The Pharmacy Guild/IAM said: “The Pharmacy Guild/IAM is giving pharmacists and pharmacy technicians a way to stand together and take back their profession. This movement is about safe staffing, protecting our patients and making sure the people delivering care have a real voice in the delivery of that care.”
Kelly Williams from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center added: “For those of us on the front lines of healthcare, this is about being able to do our jobs the right way… This conference shows we’re not alone—we’re building something bigger.”
The event also included remarks from IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett; Western Territory General Vice President Robert Martinez; Training & Apprenticeship General Vice President Jon Holden; Palm Springs Mayor Naomi Soto; video messages from U.S. Senators Adam Schiff & Alex Padilla; U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz; breakout sessions on health/well-being & political action; comedy programming focused on pharmacy experiences; recognition awards for frontline leadership achievements.
Bryant concluded: “This is what professional power looks like… Workers coming together and building something bigger—and we’re just getting started.”
