“We have agreed terms under which the Boots Pharmacists' Association (BPA) can transfer into the PDA Union,” the PDA yesterday (October 10) announced to its Boots members.
In 2018, Boots pharmacists voted to “derecognise” Boots’ own union – the Boots Pharmacists’ Association (BPA) – “enabling a second ballot in 2019 to recognise the PDA Union”, it said.
Now, the PDA has revealed that a “positive relationship” between the two unions has “enabled frank conversations about the future of the BPA”.
Read more: Boots employees win historic vote to decide union for themselves
“The BPA’s leadership recognise that there is now no sustainable future for the BPA as a separate body,” it added.
“Closing the BPA in an orderly manner would be the likely outcome at the end of this year,” it said.
“However, the proposal of merging with us gives a brighter future for those members,” it stressed.
“Enhance the collective voice”
It said that BPA members will be balloted on the proposal for their union to be absorbed by the PDA.
“A ballot of BPA members will be held in late October/early November,” the PDA added.
“PDA members do not need to take any action under this type of union transfer – it is just for BPA members to agree via a postal ballot, which is being arranged,” it said.
Read more: Boots pharmacists vote ‘overwhelmingly’ in favour of PDA Union
If the proposals go ahead, BPA members “will be members of the PDA Union, rather than the BPA” from January 1, according to the PDA.
“Around 60-70% of employed pharmacists” at the multiple “are already PDA members”, it said.
“By adding hundreds more current BPA members, this may boost that to over 70% which will enhance the collective voice for all pharmacists at the company,” it added.
Read more: Boots pharmacists given deadline to decide union future
A Boots spokesperson told C+D today that the multiple is “aware of the proposal by the BPA to transfer their membership to the PDA, subject to ballot, and will respect the outcome of this process”.
“We have a productive working relationship with PDA union,” it added.
UK first
The 2018 vote to derecognise the BPA was the “first time [the] process has ever been undertaken in the UK”, the PDA Union claimed at the time.
“No group of employees has ever taken a campaign to end recognition of a non-independent trade union this far down the legal process,” it said.
Read more: Boots and the PDA: The never-ending story
It came after six Boots pharmacists lodged a legal challenge to formally “derecognise” the BPA with the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) – the independent body responsible for resolving workplace disputes – in July 2017.
The dispute dates back to January 2012, when the PDA Union called for official recognition from Boots, after alleging that the multiple’s staff employment terms were being “gradually eroded”.
