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Source: http://www.pharmacynews.com.au/article/pressure-on-pharmacists-wages-a-global-trend/503997.aspx
The global financial crisis (GFC), coupled with Government policy in the pharmaceuticals area, is having a severe impact on community pharmacy across the world.
This is in turn having a major impact on pharmacists' wages. This is because the first lever that a business enacts is to cut staff and reduce wages costs.
Many pharmacists in Australia would be unaware that there is no minimum wage for individual professions in many countries. There is only the protection of overall minimum wage.
The following global snapshot of work undertaken by the Guild shows why community pharmacy needs to remain viable and the profession united in this time of Agreement negotiation.
Comments by some pharmacists will only cause damage to their own remuneration in the long term and the overseas evidence is there for all to see.
USA
There are 110 pharmacy schools in the United States with the number of schools doubling over the last eight years.
Prior to the GFC, pharmacy was booming but the new Medicare Part D arrangements together with the GFC have caused pharmacists' wages to be slashed.
There is now an oversupply. In many US states, pharmacist wages have been cut in half with remuneration average falling to under US$40,000 in states like California.
As of 24 July, 2009, the minimum wage in the United States by Federal law is a mere US$7.25 an hour. There is no minimum pharmacist wage in place.
United Kingdom
The minimum wage in the UK is £5.73, with no minimum profession wage in place. Generic medicines policy and the GFC have caused wages to fall for pharmacists in management positions by 33 per cent.
Many of the pharmacy chains are happy to take pharmacists from other EU countries. To them, the wages seem fine compared to the wage in their country of origin.
To corporate pharmacy owners, wages to pharmacists are a mere business cost and they are ruthless in their approach. Some chains actively recruit from other EU countries.
Ireland
The situation in Ireland is quite dramatic, with wage rates for pharmacists falling from 50 an hour to 15 an hour in a mere 18 months in some areas.
The minimum wage is currently 8.65 an hour. The reduction in pharmacist remuneration by dramatic Government policy is well documented and pharmacy and the Government are in court at present.
New Zealand
Even one of our closest neighbours does not have a minimum wage for individual professions. On 1 April, 2009, the minimum wage was a mere NZ$12.50 an hour.
In community pharmacy, wages have fallen by 25 per cent over the last 18 months. The first impact was shown on pharmacist relievers, who reported only half the amount of hours being available compared to a year ago.
Australia
The vast majority of Australia's registered pharmacists are employed in community pharmacies. It is vital that community pharmacy remains viable to ensure these pharmacists keep their jobs and at a wage levels that they currently enjoy.
In Australia, the Guild is fighting for a fair Agreement to ensure that all pharmacists remain in jobs. The growth in pharmacy schools and 1,400 graduates a year is adding further pressure.
The critics of community pharmacy from within our profession, who incorrectly believe community pharmacy owners are faring well and are calling for cuts in the Agreement, should keep in mind the jobs of their pharmacist colleagues.
It was the Greek fable author Aesop who said, "United we stand, divided we fall."
The global financial crisis (GFC), coupled with Government policy in the pharmaceuticals area, is having a severe impact on community pharmacy across the world.
Many pharmacists in Australia would be unaware that there is no minimum wage for individual professions in many countries. There is only the protection of overall minimum wage.
The following global snapshot of work undertaken by the Guild shows why community pharmacy needs to remain viable and the profession united in this time of Agreement negotiation.
Comments by some pharmacists will only cause damage to their own remuneration in the long term and the overseas evidence is there for all to see.
USA
There are 110 pharmacy schools in the United States with the number of schools doubling over the last eight years.
Prior to the GFC, pharmacy was booming but the new Medicare Part D arrangements together with the GFC have caused pharmacists' wages to be slashed.
There is now an oversupply. In many US states, pharmacist wages have been cut in half with remuneration average falling to under US$40,000 in states like California.
As of 24 July, 2009, the minimum wage in the United States by Federal law is a mere US$7.25 an hour. There is no minimum pharmacist wage in place.
United Kingdom
The minimum wage in the UK is £5.73, with no minimum profession wage in place. Generic medicines policy and the GFC have caused wages to fall for pharmacists in management positions by 33 per cent.
Many of the pharmacy chains are happy to take pharmacists from other EU countries. To them, the wages seem fine compared to the wage in their country of origin.
To corporate pharmacy owners, wages to pharmacists are a mere business cost and they are ruthless in their approach. Some chains actively recruit from other EU countries.
Ireland
The situation in Ireland is quite dramatic, with wage rates for pharmacists falling from 50 an hour to 15 an hour in a mere 18 months in some areas.
The minimum wage is currently 8.65 an hour. The reduction in pharmacist remuneration by dramatic Government policy is well documented and pharmacy and the Government are in court at present.
New Zealand
Even one of our closest neighbours does not have a minimum wage for individual professions. On 1 April, 2009, the minimum wage was a mere NZ$12.50 an hour.
In community pharmacy, wages have fallen by 25 per cent over the last 18 months. The first impact was shown on pharmacist relievers, who reported only half the amount of hours being available compared to a year ago.
Australia
The vast majority of Australia's registered pharmacists are employed in community pharmacies. It is vital that community pharmacy remains viable to ensure these pharmacists keep their jobs and at a wage levels that they currently enjoy.
In Australia, the Guild is fighting for a fair Agreement to ensure that all pharmacists remain in jobs. The growth in pharmacy schools and 1,400 graduates a year is adding further pressure.
The critics of community pharmacy from within our profession, who incorrectly believe community pharmacy owners are faring well and are calling for cuts in the Agreement, should keep in mind the jobs of their pharmacist colleagues.
It was the Greek fable author Aesop who said, "United we stand, divided we fall."
. This has also been discussed to death which is why i suggest adding it to the sky is falling thread.
I fear this is sarcasm.
