Joint Statement
The Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) recently confirmed that the Pharmacists’ Defence Association Union (PDAU) had been successful in its application to be recognised for the purposes of collective bargaining with Boots.
The first meeting between Boots and the PDAU took place on 1 April 2019 in Leicester and we’re writing to you together with an update.
The meeting was co-chaired by Anne Higgins, Director of Stores Scotland and Northern Ireland and Paul Day, PDA Union National Officer. Anne was partnered by Matthew Blain, Director of HR Operations; and Kirsty Pitcher, Director of HR Retail & Opticians. The PDAU were also represented by: Mark Pitt, Assistant General Secretary and Michael Radcliffe .
It marked the start of negotiations about the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, how it will work and what it will cover. We talked through the outline of a recognition agreement and the cooperation needed to define our future work.
We’re at the start of a new relationship in which both sides are committed to creating a productive, trusting, positive and successful partnership that will work to keep the best interests of the profession and business at its heart.
It’s not always going to be easy, and there will be some things we aren’t in agreement on, but equally, we have common ground and shared goals that we can work together to develop.
We have both listened to the voice of our pharmacists and will continue to do so to build the future of Pharmacy at Boots. We care passionately about doing the right thing for our pharmacists – to create an exciting, innovative and sustainable future for us all, and we will continue with our negotiations with this in mind.
Kind regards,
For Boots UK:
Matthew Blain, Director of HR Operations,
Kirsty Pitcher, Director of HR Retail & Opticians,
Anne Higgins, Director of Stores Scotland and Northern Ireland
For PDA Union: