Why is the PDA becoming a Union?

Sixty per cent of members join the PDA through word of mouth recommendations, and we take many measures to ensure that we are aware of their needs and opinions.

Communication and consultation with the membership

The Annual PDA conference February 2006 and 2007

The consultation on union status for the PDA was commenced in earnest with the membership at the PDA annual conference in 2006. So as to establish the views of members, a debate was held which excluded officers of the PDA. The vast majority of delegates indicated that they would be keen for PDA to become a union if it meant better services for members. This issue was addressed again in 2007.

Focus Groups

At least six focus-group meetings were held with members to pursue the matter further and during these meetings, it was possible to explore the practical considerations. It became clear that members felt that union status would indeed be most advantageous to the organisation and ultimately to its members.

Surveys

We fully recognise that pharmacists will have varying perceptions as to unionisation and this became clear early on. PDA members of various ages, gender and work sector were invited to focus group meetings. Prior to the meetings, they were given surveys which elicited opinion from them as to whether they;

• Were disposed to PDA becoming a Union
• Were neither convinced nor had they ruled the option out altogether
• Were hostile toward the idea.

The research showed that there were approximately an equal proportion of members in each category of opinion.

Following the Focus Group session, nobody placed themselves in the ‘hostile’ category, one person moved into the second category (from the ‘hostile’ category) and the rest placed themselves in the first category (in favour of seeking Union status).

We will continue to monitor opinion and will use members’ response to the announcement as further research as to the proportion that wish to be members of the Union

The need to give members the option

The focus group concluded that although the benefits would be powerful, members must nevertheless be given the option of whether or not they wanted to be members of the ‘Union’ without compromising their current PDA membership benefits.