Dear member,
I am sharing this communication with you to update you on matters relating to pharmacy practice that are specific to Northern Ireland and how we are working to improve these. I also want to ensure you can easily raise any workplace issue with me, so please do email me directly at una.o’farrell@pda-union.org if there is a matter that we are not currently working on that you feel should be addressed.
Before discussing core business and campaigns, I’d like to highlight the casework from across the sectors that I am involved with currently. These members have all turned to the PDA for support when they have otherwise felt isolated and alone. The PDA is currently supporting four members through workplace disputes in Northern Ireland.
Often, members don’t see the benefit of the union until they need their services. While I hope that members never find themselves in these unfortunate circumstances, I do wish to remind you that defending and supporting the individual registrant pharmacist in any aspect of their professional life is what we are here for, so please do engage early if you think you need us. In the meantime, we continue to work on policy and campaigns across all sectors on your behalf.
ICTU Women’s Conference
I bring your attention to the ICTU Women’s Conference that I attended earlier in March. This conference was filled with representatives from various trade unions throughout Ireland. Many who attended had stories of how they had only become involved with their respective trade union when they had need to engage their services. Some of their stories related to harassment or assault at work. It was only with trade union support that they felt able to pursue the matter – in one case of workplace upskirting, the perpetrator was subsequently prosecuted and law amended. They spoke of how their experience had taken them to dark places and how their trade union helped get them through.
The full article and further details on the ICTU Women’s Conference can be found here.
Our work at GPFEDNI
The next meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) with GPFEDNI is scheduled for Monday 8 April. The current agenda items are the application of the pay award relating to the financial year 2023/24 and an update on the movement towards alignment with Agenda for Change (AFC) terms and conditions.
A package of PDA indemnity cover specific to the requirements of those working in this sector is being worked up, and we hope to have further update on that soon.
Our plans for the JNC have been outlined in a direct email to our members at GPFEDNI. If you think you should have received this communication but didn’t, please ensure your details and communication preferences are up to date.
Pay increase for NHS (AFC) pharmacists
The Department of Health (DOH) has offered a pay uplift of 5%, plus a lump sum payment of £1500 to those working under AFC, payable from April 2023. This restores parity with England to the banding structures. However, the lump sum payment is a flat rate as opposed to being a proportion of salary, or graduated, so is not identical to what was offered in England.
We recognise that the offer does not address all issues faced by pharmacists in this sector. We also recognise that it is prudent to have the uplift applied, with back payment, and the lump sum paid to members as quickly as possible. To this end, we have recommended that this offer is accepted and are planning to gain member opinion on this in the coming days.
The pay review process for 2024 has already begun and we have submitted evidence for this.
Trainees and students
Members have raised concerns relating to changes to the foundation year training programme, and whether six months is adequate time to offer sign-off for a trainee. We have recognised your concerns and are working on this matter currently.
We have also written directly to Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) on behalf of trainees, seeking a pledge to ensure that the rate of pay for trainees never falls below the living wage. At the time of writing, we are awaiting a response.
Finally, we recently ran a session with Ulster University pharmacy undergrad students on the role trade unions play in healthcare workforces. As we are seeking to launch a campaign relating to student fees, I’m appealing to any students who are interested to email me at una.o’farrell@pda-union.org for an early informal conversation.
Remember, PDA membership is free for students and foundation year trainees.
Please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.
Kind regards,
Una O’Farrell
PDA National Officer for Northern Ireland
una.o’farrell@pda-union.org
In case you missed it
- PDA donates £1,000 to the Pharmacist Advice and Support Service.
- PDA secures over £100,000 in unpaid locum fees for members so far this year.
- PDA has submitted its response to the DHSC’s consultation on supervision.
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.
Read about our key member benefits here.