Walgreens pharmacists to strike

CHICAGO, July 6 (UPI) -- The National Pharmacists Association has called a strike at 400 Chicago-area Walgreens stores.

The union, which represents about 1,200 pharmacists at the stores in northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, said it expects to begin the strike at 10 p.m. CDT Wednesday.

Walgreens, which is offering to pay pharmacists more than $100,000 per year for a 40-hour work week, has vowed to keep its stores and pharmacies open during the strike.

The union said pay was not the issue but rather working conditions that pose safety threats to customers. The pharmacists say stores are understaffed.