At the meeting, Paul Moloney, PDA National Officer gave an update on the progress on negotiations for a pay increase for NHS staff employed under Agenda for Change and the PDA’s submission to the Pay Review Body. Paul also outlined how the PDA has contributed to the government’s consultation on changes to the NHS pension scheme and has secured safeguards. This resulted in the government withdrawing the proposal to freeze the point at which the highest contribution rates are paid and also to increase all points at which higher contribution rates kick in with either CPI or the value of each year’s NHS pension increase, whichever is the higher.
Liz Larkin, PDA Organiser talked with members about how they can get involved in local processes on changes to on-call policies or other issues. Liz demonstrated how, when members work together collectively, they can influence change. One rep talked about how he had obtained recognition at his NHS trust and by sitting on the Staff Partnership Forum, where unions meet with senior management, he helps to give pharmacists a voice.
Alisdair Jones, PDA NHS Rep and PDA Treasurer said, “It was great to see such a turnout for our hospital members’ event. We were able to discuss some of the challenges we have all been facing, particularly around changes to NHS pay and pensions, seven-day working, and on-call arrangements. As a workplace representative, I know the difference it can make to pharmacists and the wider workforce, and I’d encourage all our members to consider volunteering so we can build on the work we are already doing.”
Those wishing to get involved and become a PDA NHS Rep can find out more here.
Learn more
- PDA submits evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body
- Become a PDA Rep
- Welcome to the PDA NHS Pharmacists’ Newsletter – March 2024
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
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