It comes after the PDA asked union members at Lloydspharmacy to vote on the latest pay offer, which Lloydspharmacy described as its “final offer”, by 5pm on June 22.

In an email to members seen by C+D, the national negotiator and lead for the Lloydspharmacy negotiations Paul Moloney wrote that the 3% offer is “in line… with other increases in healthcare”.

Lloydspharmacy pharmacists and PDA Union officials also rejected two pay offers put forward by the multiple last month.

 

Lloydspharmacy: “Disappointed” by outcome

 

A Lloydspharmacy spokesperson told C+D today (June 24) that the multiple is “disappointed to hear of the outcome”.

“Our offer is broadly within the range of increases being achieved within community pharmacy, the NHS, and the wider economy,” they noted.

The multiple is, however, “committed to working together with the PDA to reach an agreement that works for our colleagues while ensuring the commercial stability and sustainability of our pharmacy network to serve our patients and customers”, they said.

 

PDA members felt 3% rise not “enough”

 

Lloydspharmacy originally offered pharmacists a 1.8% salary increase, although this was raised to 3% “over a period of months”, PDA director Paul Day told C+D.

As well as the 3% pay rise, a “bonus scheme” was also on the negotiating table for pharmacists working for the company, he continued.

As “the bonus scheme [was] not guaranteed”, the PDA asked its members to comment solely on the 3% salary increase proposal and whether they deemed it acceptable.

“The response of the members was that they don’t think 3% is enough,” Mr Day said. “Certainly, not 3% on its own”, without the bonus scheme.

 

Still scope for discussion

Despite Lloydspharmacy stating earlier that the 3% salary increase was its “final offer”, there is still scope for further discussion between the company and the union, Mr Day said.

The PDA has written a letter to Lloydspharmacy, he explained, detailing how its workforce thinks its offer is “not enough” and suggesting they have “a conversation about how we can maybe change this to make it be enough, to satisfy [members]”.

The multiple could offer PDA Union members a bigger pay rise or look at making “other changes to terms and conditions” such as bonuses, extra pay for working unsociable hours or holidays, Mr Day suggested.

If Lloydspharmacy responds by refusing to add to its 3% offer, the PDA could get the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) – an independent public body that offers advice to employers and employees – involved to help with the discussions.

“And if that didn’t work, then you’re into the place where the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers are at [with travel strikes],” Mr Day stated.

“We’re not in that place yet and we hope we don’t get to that place,” he said. Pharmacists are “concerned about patients” and striking is not “something… [they] would do lightly”, Mr Day said.

The PDA will keep members advised of the conversations it has with Lloydspharmacy, he said.