Is Target still on the Boycott list?

[politicat]

I know that Target was under boycott because they were not disciplining pharmacists for not filling BC/Morning After prescriptions, but were letting them make decisions other workers could not legally make (like the Catholic at the checkout stand can't refuse to sell a customer condoms).

However, I saw an article a few weeks back that they had fired a pharmacist who refused to do his job.

So have they reversed their policy, or was it a store thing?

Because if they have reversed their policy, they're off my Boycott list - there aren't many things I can only get at Target, but the few things they carry that I need (rather than want) they're the only place to get them other than The Evil Walmart.

[babylonsister]

1. I shop there when I have to; haven't stepped in a Walmart

in years!

[politicat]

3. The only time I've been in a walmart since 1998

was to pick up my great-grandfather's medications when he was on home-hospice; Hospice used the closest pharmacy to his house that was open after 6 pm and that was the wal-mart 12 miles away.

I won't go in there. I just want to know if I have to find alternatives to the safe cleaning solutions we use or if I can go buy a few more bottles of method.

[Ecumenist]

2. Where have I been?

:shrug: I didn't even know that they participated in this refusal on the part of their pharmacists..:wow: When was this?

[politicat]

4. Here's one link...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=217x3023

The rest are all archived.

[pk_du]

5. Looks like its still on...

http://www.saveroe.com/target/response

[Bridget Burke]

6. I have not heard of **ANY** corporate policies....

Absolutely ensuring that all pharmacists will always fill BC/Morning After 'scrips. I'm speaking of all nationwide chains that fill prescriptions--not just Target. I'd ask my local Target about their policy, then decide. A good response should earn a positive letter to corporate HQ. You figure out what to do about a bad response!

The Target corporation gives $$ to Republicans, but also contributes to communities. Apparently, they treat their employees better than WalMart. And their stores are not depressing dumps.

We all ought to be self sustaining or purchase everything from Yurt-dwellers! For those of us less than 100% pure, Target seems a reasonable compromise.

[politicat]

7. Costco's policies are sound.

I asked last time I was in to get mine filled. The only time they won't fill such a scrip is if they don't have it on hand, and then they will call the doctor and ask if they can do the mini-pill substitute with the specific instructions on how to use it.

I've been shopping almost exclusively at Costco all winter (and yes, I have learned how to use a 4 pound bag of baby spinach before it goes bad... Sigh)

Wah! There's not a Yurt Dweller to be found within 500 miles!

[Bridget Burke]

8. Great--is that Costco's Official Corporate Policy?

Some policies are set by individual stores.

[politicat]

10. I'll ask that next time...

I asked, "What's the policy on contraception and the morning after pill?" and the pharmacist told me the above.

I didn't think to ask if that was corporate or store - my bad.

[tlsmith1963]

9. I Regularly Shop Target

Because I cannot stand Wal-Mart. I only go to Wal-Mart if I have no other choice. They are in the local mall, & they are the only store that carries certain items in that mall. I rarely am forced to go there, though.

Tammy

[noonwitch]

11. Keep in mind that the Target Corp. supports Planned Parenthood

Or, at least, they used to when they were Dayton-Hudson. I haven't checked recently.

A store has to walk a fine line in these issues. Target probably doesn't want to be the store with the first court case. If they fire a pharmacist for refusing to fill a birth control prescription (or Plan B, or whatever), that pharmacist is going to sue. That pharmacist will get Jay Sekulow or one of those right-wing lawyers to jam up the courts, which, given the conservative nature of the courts these days, could end with them ordering some kind of similar compromise anyways. Why waste all the dollars in the mean time? They are a corporation, they are not going to fight the good fight for the sake of a principle.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

12. Target Was Never Wrong To Begin With. Their Policies Were Fine.

They had several releases as to what their policy was and I found no fault with them. They should've never been boycotted to begin with in my opinion.

[politicat]

13. After reading their policy...

I do see a problem. Here's the quote:

In the rare event that a pharmacist’s beliefs conflict with filling a guest’s prescription for the emergency contraceptive Plan B, our policy requires our pharmacists to take responsibility for ensuring that the guest’s prescription is filled in a timely and respectful manner, either by another Target pharmacist or a different pharmacy.

The emergency contraceptive Plan B is the only medication for which this policy applies.
Under no circumstances can the pharmacist prevent the prescription from being filled, make discourteous or judgmental remarks, or discuss his or her religious beliefs with the guest.

1. No other employee has the right to refuse to sell a customer any item. A Catholic at the checkstand cannot refuse to sell condoms; a Muslim cannot refuse to sell pork or alcohol, an Atheist cannot refuse to sell a bible. Any other employee in the store would be fired for refusing to do her/his job. Pharmacists' and pharmacists' assistant employment terms are not significantly different; they're class 5 and 6 employees, but they're still hourly and they're still basically at will employees. They don't have a special contract (at least in Colorado. I checked with a friend who works for Target.)

2. It's only Plan B - the pharmacist cannot refuse to fill a Viagra prescription, even if s/he has solid knowledge that it may be used to commit a crime such as rape. S/he can't refuse to fill an opiate scrip for someone who looks like s/he might be abusing it. It's only this one drug that has the Fundies all up in arms.

3. If there's only one pharmacist working, then the scrip goes unfilled. The store may be the only location within a reasonable distance where the client can get the meds, or it may be the only opportunity she has. Remember, Plan B has a limited usefulness - it must be taken within 72 hours, and the sooner, the better.

Those are my issues with the policy. But since they seem to be firing employees who won't do their fucking jobs, I'm less inclined to have issues with the policy.