Pharmacists at Boots have overcome many legal hurdles to secure the right for their trade union, PDAU, to negotiate over their pay, hours and other working conditions, and this process is now beginning for the first time ever. The PDAU have published an online survey to give all eligible Boots pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacists the opportunity to input into the negotiation process, even if not yet a PDAU member.
This is the first time ever, that terms & conditions for Boots pharmacists will be independently negotiated and the trade union are seeking active engagement from the circa 6,700 employees in the bargaining unit. The survey has already been sent direct to PDAU members at Boots, and within hours of its release, hundreds had already made their views known.
The PDAU also wants to hear from those who haven’t yet joined the union.
Company policy does not permit the hosting of union pay surveys, so the PDAU are sharing the survey through social media to reach out to as many employees as possible, as we only have contact details for union members.
Mark Pitt, Assistant General Secretary of PDAU, sent this message to Boots pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacists: “The easiest way to make sure you hear from us and to know that we listen to you is to join the union; we’re a democratic, independent organisation that exists to serve our members. There were already many good reasons to be a PDAU member and having a say on negotiations about improving your terms & conditions, is yet another one”
Starting from this year, pharmacists in the following roles at Boots will now have their pay decided through a negotiation process between the company and PDAU:
(i) Store-based Pharmacists;
(ii) Relief Pharmacist;
(iii) Care Services Pharmacist;
(iv) Advanced Practitioner Pharmacist;
(v) Specialist Practitioner;
(vi) Pre-Registration Pharmacist; and
(vii) Pharmacist Store Manager at level 5.
If you are in one of those roles at Boots, please complete the short survey which can be found by clicking here. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to help shape your working conditions by expressing your views.