Boots pharmacists overwhelmingly (87%) voted to end the company’s blocking agreement with the BPA in order that PDA Union can seek recognition as their independent voice at work. As soon as the Boots/BPA agreement was terminated by the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) the PDA Union submitted a formal request for recognition for the same group of employees that were entitled to vote in the ballot.
The legal process gave the company 10 working days to respond to the union’s request. The company had a choice of how to respond. It could agree to voluntarily recognise the union, decline the request (in which case the union can apply to the CAC for recognition to be granted), not respond (in which case the union could apply to the CAC for recognition to be granted), or it could ask for a further period of 20 days in which to discuss what could be agreed.
Since the meeting, the company responded to the initial application with a request to have the further 20 day period for discussion. If no agreement is made after this 20 day period then the union can apply to the CAC for recognition. We will keep members informed of how this process develops.