The PDAU is now recognised for collective bargaining at Boots
The result of the recognition ballot at Boots was overwhelming. After the ballot result the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) have now declared that from 13 March 2019:
“…the Union is recognised by the Employer as entitled to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of the bargaining unit comprising all registered and pre-registration store-based pharmacists at levels 5, 6 and 7 who are employed by Boots Management Services Ltd.”
What we are doing next
Our negotiating team will now be meeting with company representatives to agree the structure under which we will negotiate pay, holiday and hours of work and other matters going forward. We will be asking the company to honour many of the proposals they made in their BJNC proposals, because although the management-controlled version of this model has been rejected, this showed the level of resources and time that the company could devote to improving employee relations with pharmacists.
We have already begun this process with the company and once these arrangements are in place, we will be able to begin the discussions that should bring improvements to your working life. The CAC have given the two parties six weeks to agree arrangements, but if no agreement is made, the CAC can decide the details of the arrangements.
What you can do
The PDAU is a member-led independent trade union. We have expert lawyers and pharmacists in our central team, however most of what a union can achieve is done locally by members who are trained and supported to be representatives. This network will listen to their colleagues – PDAU members and non-members – and collate issues that we need to resolve.
We are inviting any PDAU members employed at Boots to volunteer to become part of the our network at the company. We will need to fill a number of positions and to begin with we would like you to express initial interest in becoming part of the team. Though the bargaining unit and negotiating structure is limited to registered and pre-registration store-based pharmacists at levels 5, 6 and 7, PDA union membership is wider than that and so we’d also like to hear from those of you who are outside the bargaining unit, such as in a field or head office role.
We want to appoint a wide range of representatives from different backgrounds who reflect the pharmacy population. You don’t need to commit fully at this time, but if you are interested, or would like to find out more, please follow this link and tell us some more about you.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BootsNetwork1
We will create a network that represents the four UK nations and organise the necessary training. Please be assured that we will never ask you to undertake activity that you don’t feel confident doing; we will train, support and coach you to do that role.
Trade Union representatives are also protected in law from detriment or discrimination, so you should not be treated negatively or suffer any penalty for serving as a representative. On the contrary, being a representative often brings useful personal development for colleagues who learn new skills from their activity and gain confidence in their substantive job.
PDAU hope this is something you may be able to consider and that you will complete the expression of interest form.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BootsNetwork1
Meeting arranged
We have also arranged a closed meeting exclusively for Boots pharmacists (no press will be invited) at our national conference. The event will be held in Birmingham from 1pm on Sunday 31 March.
This will allow PDA officials to provide a situational report and Boots pharmacists to participate in a free and open discussion about their hopes for the future.