The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) announced over the weekend (November 30) that as part of its efforts “to secure trade union recognition” at Superdrug, the decision “will now go to a formal ballot”.
The body is set to follow the statutory route of union recognition after the Superdrug senior team declared they “are not willing to recognise the PDA voluntarily”, it added.
Read more: Superdrug agrees to PDA Union’s bargaining unit proposals
PDA Union director Paul Day last week (November 26) told C+D exclusively that the process could be concluded “early in the new year”.
“I would have thought by the spring, we’ll be clear”, he added.
“They want a ballot”
In a letter sent to pharmacists at Superdrug last month (November 17), the PDA said that “Superdrug could [still] voluntarily agree to recognise the PDA Union at any time”.
But currently, “senior managers are telling us they want a ballot of the circa 260 individuals” that would be covered by the bargaining unit, it added.
Read more: ‘Numerous benefits’: PDA steams ahead with Superdrug union recognition
The vote must achieve both “over 40% in favour and a majority” to secure recognition for the union, it said.
“The law says that even if 39% voted “Yes” and nobody voted “No”, that would be insufficient”, the PDA stressed.
Read more: Boots union members ‘overwhelming’ vote to merge with PDA
Superdrug last week (November 28) told C+D that it is “working with the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) and the PDA to agree the type and timing of a ballot” as part of “constructive discussions”.
And Superdrug’s pharmacy director Craig Watt said that the multiple is “pleased with the outcome” of the talks.
“It’s crucial that all our Superdrug pharmacy colleagues take part in the ballot to make sure their voice is heard,” he urged.
“We’d rather avoid dispute”
But Day stressed that the PDA “would encourage Superdrug to just agree” to union recognition voluntarily.
“We’d much rather that the management agree voluntarily and it can be done without us having a big public spat with them,” he told C+D, adding that “we’d rather avoid that dispute”.
But he said that “it’s up to the management” to make that decision.
Read more: Superdrug dispenses health dividend payout to parent company
If the vote is not passed at the upcoming formal ballot, the PDA will have to wait for a significant period of time before it can begin the process again.
“If…not enough pharmacists vote in favour now, then we’d spend the next three years making sure we win next time,” Day said.
Read more: Boots pharmacists vote ‘overwhelmingly’ in favour of PDA Union
“About 36%” of Superdrug pharmacists are PDA members, he added, with the body “going through another membership check” after the multiple agreed to include senior pharmacy managers (SPMs) in the proposed bargaining unit last month.
The PDA first made a formal application to secure union recognition at Superdrug earlier this year.
A CAC panel found at the time that a “majority of workers in the proposed bargaining unit” would likely endorse the PDA to conduct collective bargaining on their behalf.