Pharmacists sometimes tell the PDA that they are unsure about their rights at work as trade union members and are not familiar with some of the terminology that relates to trade union recognition. This FAQ is designed to help with understanding this topic.
Q1 What is a trade union?
A ‘trade union’, often referred to as simply a ‘union’ is an organisation of workers created to protect and advance the interests of its members by negotiating agreements with employers on pay and conditions of work. Unions may also provide legal advice, financial assistance, sickness benefits and education facilities.
Trade unions have achieved positive changes in society such as rights to a minimum wage, equality legislation, health & safety at work, maternity leave, reducing the number of working hours in a week, and statutory entitlements to sick pay, parental leave, holiday and other employment conditions. They continue to work together on campaigns to benefit society such as living wage rates, anti-racism, managing the impact of artificial intelligence and protecting workers’ rights.
Q2 Am I allowed to join a trade union?
Yes. You have a legal right to be a trade union member. You do not need to tell your employer that you have joined one, and in fact trade union membership is one of several Special Categories of data under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) – previously classified as “sensitive personal data” under the Data Protection Act (DPA). Employers and employment agencies must not treat you unfairly because you decide to join, decide to leave, refuse to leave or refuse to join a trade union.
Q3 What is the PDA Union?
The PDA Union was created in 2008 to give pharmacists additional support, opportunities, and workplace representation beyond that which was already being provided by the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (founded in 2003) which already supported pharmacists with proactive and reactive advice and guidance, indemnity and legal defence insurance, and lobbying for the pharmacists’ agenda.
The PDA delivers education and events for members, and empowers pharmacists to get involved, to have their voices heard and to campaign together to represent their collective interests.
With more than half of the UK profession in membership, the PDA has the resources and track record to effectively champion the concerns of employed and locum pharmacists as appropriate.
Q4 Who is the Certification Officer?
The Certification Officer is responsible for statutory functions relating to trade unions and employers’ associations. The Certification Officer works with the Department for Business and Trade.
Q5 What is an ‘independent’ trade union?
A trade union which is not under the domination or control of an employer and is independent from the employer financially. The Certification Officer maintains a list of trade unions and is responsible for determining whether a trade union or staff association is ‘independent’. Unions which prove that they are ‘independent’ will be granted a certificate of independence by the Certification Office.
Q6 What is Trade union recognition?
A trade union is ‘recognised’ by an employer when there is an agreement that the union can negotiate with the employer on pay and other terms and conditions of employment on behalf of a group of workers, defined as the ‘bargaining unit’. This process is known as ‘collective bargaining’.
Trade union recognition can come about by a voluntary agreement between the employer(s) and trade union, or by a union and its members using a statutory process overseen by the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to secure recognition.
Q7 What is an affiliated trade union?
Just as individuals achieve more by joining together as a trade union, so unions can achieve more by coming together in national, or international, federations. When a trade union becomes part of a federation it is known as being an ‘affiliated union’.
As part of federations, the PDA can use the greater influence and reach of the federation to promote the interests of pharmacists, and highlight the issues that impact pharmacy, even more widely. It can also further contribute to the wider trade union movement, world of pharmacy and civil society.
Read more about the organisations which PDA is affiliated to here.
Q8 What if the PDA isn’t yet recognised by my employer?
In an employer where the PDA Union is not yet recognised you can still actively participate in the union and access support, individually or as a group of employed pharmacists.
PDA members within a workplace or employer can also discuss pharmacy issues and employment concerns with each other. Whilst there is no requirement for the employer to negotiate with the union, PDA members can still share concerns or suggestions with the employer as a collective.
The PDA is here for advice and guidance to help you understand and exercise your rights at work. The PDA can confidentially collate information from pharmacists at your workplace who are experiencing the same issue and then work collectively with those members locally or nationally.
Q9 Can the PDA represent me at internal meetings (even if it is not yet recognised)?
Workers have a statutory right to be accompanied by a work colleague or a trade union representative at formal disciplinary or grievance hearings, including for collective grievances whether the union is recognised or not. This applies even where the union is not yet recognised.
Sometimes representation can also be agreed for other types of meetings.
Q10 Can I become a union representative at my employer?
Yes, any PDA member can volunteer to be a union workplace representative, though the work undertaken may look different if your employer has not yet entered into a recognition agreement with the PDA.
It is helpful to everyone if one or more employed pharmacists at each employer has stepped forward to become a trade union representative. Workplace representatives receive training and support from the union. Representatives can help to recruit, communicate and organise members and help members with matters such as Health & Safety. If others don’t step forward, then perhaps you could do it.
Employees who are official representatives of a trade union that is recognised by their employer have a statutory right to take reasonable amounts of paid and unpaid time off for certain union duties and activities.
Where there is no recognition, the employer does not have to give time or release you from normal duties during working hours, but the union can still train members to become representatives and help them to support colleagues and to perform the role in their own time. Health & Safety representatives are entitled for time off for training and duties.
Find out more about becoming a PDA Union Representative here.
Q11 How do I get the PDA Union recognised at my employer?
If there is not already another independent trade union recognised to collectively bargain for pharmacists at your employer, it may be possible for you and your colleagues to help to secure recognition there.
To improve the chances of either voluntary or statutory recognition we need most pharmacists employed there to be PDA Union members, so the first step is for you to encourage your colleagues to join the PDA.
We also need one or more members to become the PDA Workplace Representatives at that employer. Any PDA member can do this, and you can find out more on how to become a PDA Rep here.
If you think you would like to secure PDA Union recognition in your employer, then please contact our support centre in confidence and you can speak with one of our Organisers who will discuss the process with you confidentially.
Q12 Why should I encourage my colleagues to join the PDA?
The more members that are in the PDA then the more combined knowledge and experience the PDA has, the louder the collective voice of employed and locum pharmacists and the stronger the influence PDA members have with stakeholders and employers. A majority of students, trainees and pharmacists are already PDA members, and there is always room for more with many ways for you to get involved in union activity.
Being active in the PDA can also enhance your professional development.
At each university, workplace, in each employer, in every UK nation and across the profession, students and pharmacists acting in unity as the PDA union can achieve more together and influence learning providers, employers and other stakeholders.