April 26 (Reuters) - Staff at CVS Health's ( CVS ) unit

Omnicare in Las Vegas voted to join the Pharmacy Guild, becoming

the first location at the national pharmacy chain to join the

union.

About 87% of workers at CVS Omnicare, a provider of pharmacy

services to long-term care facilities, in Las Vegas voted on

Thursday in favor of unionization.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The vote comes months after some employees at CVS Health ( CVS ) and

Walgreens Boots Alliance's ( WBA ) U.S. pharmacies launched a

walkout, to push the companies to improve working conditions and

add more staff to their stores.

Pharmacy Guild, which is a part of the IAM Healthcare union,

was formed shortly after the walkout. CVS and Walgreens workers

at some locations have joined other unions in the past.

KEY QUOTE

The vote "is a clear signal to CVS that their employees are

ready to confront the crisis in the industry with paramount

emphasis on safeguarding the well-being of our patients and

defending our profession," Shane Jerominski, co-founder of the

Pharmacy Guild, said.

THE RESPONSE

"We respect our employees' right to either unionize or

refrain from doing so, including our Omnicare Las Vegas

colleagues' decision to choose union representation," a CVS

spokesperson said.