A number of Superdrug pharmacists alerted the PDA Union team to the management communication and having reviewed the communication, the PDA Union believes that there is a need for comment, and correction, to ensure pharmacists at Superdrug are properly informed about what union recognition means for them.
Superdrug management are not used to dealing with trade unions and the information circulated does not reflect the reality of the other established and successful partnerships between the PDA Union and other pharmacy chains. Some specific examples can be found below.
Read specific examples here
Voluntary agreement still an option
It is also important to be aware that the management could agree to voluntarily recognise the union at any time as is being requested by pharmacists, and this is what the PDA Union has encouraged from the start of this process
However, management seem determined for this process to have to go through a ballot. Under trade union law that means at least 40% of the bargaining unit must vote “Yes”, or else recognition cannot happen.
Paul Day, PDA Union Director explained: “Individuals may join or leave the company’s employment at anytime as individual pharmacist vacancies are created and filled, so the bargaining unit population will vary a little, but in broad terms the bargaining unit consists of around 260 employed pharmacists (including foundation trainees). Using that number the 40% requirement means at least 104 pharmacists must vote in favour.
On that number a result of 103 in favour, even with none against, would not be enough and the ballot would fail. For pharmacists to win the ballot it is essential every eligible participant be reminded to vote in the ballot when that is held. We therefore encourage pharmacists at Superdrug to discuss this important issue with their colleague pharmacists, to help raise awareness.”
Get involved
Pharmacists currently employed at Superdrug can also help by:
- Talking with fellow pharmacists and pharmacist trainees about how they can benefit from trade union recognition at Superdrug
- Registering to attend future online meetings of Superdrug pharmacists
- Pharmacists and foundation pharmacists with further comments or questions, can email [email protected]
Learn more
- Superdrug recognition to proceed to ballot
- Superdrug agree to PDA Union’s bargaining unit proposals
- Superdrug pharmacists explore what union recognition could mean for them
- Trade Union recognition for Superdrug pharmacists
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.