The Central Arbitration Committee have reissued the formal notice of the ballot on derecognition of the BPA at Boots. The notice details the process and timetable for this essential development to secure an independent voice at work for community pharmacists (see following PDF)
Important information for workers in the bargaining unit
The Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) ad already appointed “kanto Elect” as the Qualified Independent Person (QIP) to run the ballot.
The ballot period opened on 25th April 2018 and since then Pharmacists have been sent printed information from the PDA Union and the BPA at their workplaces. Ballot papers were posted to home addresses provided on 10th May 2018 by the employer, however a number of pharmacists had not received their ballot papers, mainly because of incorrect address details.
Following a ballot extension, voting papers must now be received back at the independent scrutineer’s offices by noon on Friday 1 June 2018. A pre-paid envelope was included with the ballot papers.
The full list of pharmacist and pre-reg graduate job roles who are eligible to vote in this ballot can be found at the bottom of this post.
Boots Pharmacists are advised that if they have still not received their ballot papers they should urgently e-mail enquiries@cac.gov.uk with their full name, GPHC, PSNI or pre-reg number and full current address and contact telephone number.
It is essential that as many eligible Boots employees vote on this important topic. This is a unique opportunity to secure positive change in the workplace, by derecognising the BPA and therefore removing the agreement it has with Boots which has blocked the PDA Union from negotiating with Boots over pay, hours and other working conditions for the past six years.
Neither Boots nor the BPA want pharmacists to have negotiating rights over important matters directly affecting their employment. Pharmacists can help secure those rights at Boots by voting to derecognise the BPA.
Securing an independent voice at work at Boots will also set the standard for across community pharmacy. Further information about the derecognition campaign and PDAU communications on this topic can be found here.
Job codes for pharmacists who will be eligible to vote
Boots UK Registered and Pre-Registration Pharmacists at work levels 5, 6 and 7
Based on data as at 27th February 2018*
Store:
- Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacist
- Pharmacist (Store Based)
- Pharmacist (Relief)
- Pharmacist (Care Services)
- Pharmacist (Advanced Practitioner)
- Assistant Manager
- Deputy Manager
- Pharmacist Store Manager
Support / Field roles at Level 5:
- Pharmacy Operations & Governance Manager (POGM)
- Manager (e.g. Pharmacy Operations Manager, Pharmacy Services Manager, Pharmacy Helpdesk Manager)
- Healthcare Academy Delivery Manager
- Professional Standards Manager
- Professional Support Pharmacist (including Chief Pharmacist Office support roles)
- Pharmacy L&D Manager
- Pharmacy Deployment Manager
- Healthcare Partnership Manager
- Development Manager (e.g. Contracts & Tenders, Columbus, Dispensing Support Pharmacy)
- Programme Manager
- HR Partner
- IT Technical Product Manager
- Business Analyst
- Quality & Compliance Manager
Support / Field roles at Level 6:
- Healthcare Academy Trainer
- Assistant Project Manager
- Assistant Manager (e.g. Columbus)
- Pharmacy L&D Designer
- Assistant Marketing Manager
- Assistant Operations Manager
*The exact list of job titles that meet the criteria may change slightly from time to time based on normal business activities, for example vacancies, appointments, projects, reorganisations or re-titling of roles.
ARTICLE UPDATED ON 18 MAY 2018.