The union website is now counting down the time remaining until pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacists will finally be able to vote to secure an independent voice at the UK’s largest community pharmacy business.
Until last year Boots senior management had been using a blocking agreement with the BPA, a non-independent sweetheart union to stop pharmacists from negotiating over their pay, hours and other working conditions. This agreement was terminated by a court when almost 3,000 Pharmacists voted to remove this barrier to the recognition of the PDA Union. This was a first in employee relations law as no other workforce had ever been forced to go this far to secure their rights.
The “Yes” vote in that first ballot was an overwhelming 87%. Despite that clear mandate and message, the company’s senior management are determined to stop pharmacists from having an independent voice at work and are campaigning vigorously against recognition as well hoping that less than the required c3,000 votes will be cast this time.
Mark Pitt, Assistant General Secretary of PDA Union explained: “There are just 30 days to go until this ballot starts and we want every pharmacist and pre-registration pharmacist at the company to familiarise themselves with the facts and then vote YES for a better future at work.”
The ballot period is scheduled to start on 4th February 2019 and will run for five weeks and the PDA Union website clock counts down until the start of that period. Pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacists at grade 5, 6 & 7 in Boots stores will be entitled to vote.