The PDA Union has existed since 2008 after the Pharmacists Defence Association recognised that also being an independent trade union was key to making a positive difference for pharmacists. The PDA Union is the only independent trade union exclusively for pharmacists in the UK and was granted a Certificate of Independence in 2010.
PDA Union is now the largest membership organisation for UK pharmacists and has grown so quickly that it is already one of the largest 30 trade unions in the country. PDA Union is being recognised not just for the rate of growth, but for significant campaign successes, such as the eight-year dispute it has just won at Boots UK, where it is now recognised for collective bargaining for store based pharmacists.
As the union grows and evolves, the union’s Executive Committee has recognised that PDA Union needs to strengthen the organisation’s trade union activity and as part of that recently decided to affiliate to the GFTU.
Paul Day, National Officer of the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) Union said: “We are always improving how we serve our members and we recognise that just as our members achieve more by acting collectively, so the union can achieve more for our members by working more closely with other unions.
The solidarity and support we experienced from across the trade union movement in the UK and from overseas, while we were campaigning at Boots, is just one example of how trade unions are a mutually supportive community who are fundamentally all on the same side.
We look forward to working together with other GFTU affiliates on the issues faced in today’s and tomorrow’s workplaces. We can learn from each other, share best practice and be stronger together.”
The GFTU is the federation for specialist trade unions and celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2019. Other affiliates include independent trade unions representing prison officers, musicians, professional footballers, social workers, probation workers, educational psychologists, teachers, workers from the maritime sector and many more.
In addition to connecting unions so that they can work together, the GFTU provides a comprehensive range of services to support affiliates and delivers trade union education through the GFTU Educational Trust. The training programme will be a great resource for PDAU’s network of representatives to develop their skills and it will provide a further benefit to those pharmacists who volunteer to become a union representative.
Doug Nicholls, General Secretary of GFTU said “We are delighted to welcome the PDA Union as the latest affiliate to the GFTU.
The union are clearly a success story of a professional union delivering for their members and making a difference in their sector.
We look forward to working with PDA Union as they go forward to achieve even more for their members in the years ahead.”
The PDA Union is now affiliated to GFTU, Unions21, Health Campaigns Together and the Employed Pharmacists of the European Union (EPhEU)
Notes for editors
PDA
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) is a not for profit organisation and trade union which aims to act upon and support the needs of individual pharmacists and, when necessary, to defend their reputation. It currently has more than 28,000 members.
The primary aims of the PDA are to:
- Support pharmacists in their legal, practice and employment needs.
- Represent the individual or collective concerns of pharmacists in the most appropriate manner.
- Proactively seek to influence the professional, practice and employment agenda to support members.
- Lead and support initiatives designed to improve the knowledge and skills of pharmacists in managing risk and safe practices, so improving patient care.
- Work with like-minded organisations to further improve the membership benefits to individual pharmacists.
- Provide insurance cover to safeguard and defend the reputation of the individual pharmacist.
GFTU
GFTU are a friendly democratic organisation responsive to the needs of affiliates. There is no question or issue too large or small that an affiliate cannot refer to us.
Our annual programme gives an indication of the range of support we provide. From developing professional support for General Secretaries, to offering an exceptional programme of trade union management training, to youth and arts festivals, to initial reps training, to detailed specialist research and highly customised support for individual unions, we have a flexible and expert approach.
The GFTU adds value and support to specialist unions and specialist sections of larger general unions.
- We provide research and back up and campaigning and press support.
- We provide evidence and support in negotiations.
- We provide IT and communications back up and support.
- We run specialist seminars and advice work to assist managing our unions.
- We provide a full curriculum of training courses, day schools and study seminars.
- We bring education officers and health and safety officers of unions together to improve union education.
- We organise youth conferences and support unions in their work to engage young people.
- We provide thoughtful discussion journals.
- We organise opportunities for networking and socialising for affiliates at the TUC.
- We provide project management support.
- We offer customised and free training for affiliates.
- We can assist completely or in part with the administration of affiliates’ health and safety work or education programmes.
- We provide unique international opportunities for affiliates to support international union links and understanding.
- We represent affiliates on a range of national and international bodies.