The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) last week (November 15) announced that Superdrug has agreed that senior pharmacy managers (SPMs) “belong” in its proposed bargaining unit for union recognition at the multiple.
Superdrug management had previously refused to include 21 SPMs – who have “additional responsibilities” to other pharmacy managers but still “regularly” work as the responsible pharmacist and only pharmacist in their store – “for reasons still unclear”, it said.
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This would have “denied the benefits of trade union recognition” to all SPMs, creating a “gap in the union’s coverage across all Superdrug pharmacies”, the pharmacy union added.
The PDA said that SPMs “confirmed they wanted to be included” so it “could not agree to this small bargaining unit” and the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) arranged a hearing to independently decide the issue.
But it added that Superdrug conceded and withdrew its objections to the inclusion of SPMs “shortly after” its legal submission was delivered to the CAC, meaning the hearing is no longer required and has been cancelled.
“Have their voice heard”
PDA Union general secretary Mark Pitt said he was “pleased that Superdrug management have now accepted that SPMs belong in the bargaining unit proposed by the union”.
“We…look forward to further constructive discussions about working towards a recognition agreement”, he added.
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Pitt explained that Superdrug pharmacists had asked the union to apply for recognition after seeing “how successful this type of relationship has worked in Boots over the past five years”.
“We invite Superdrug to reach a voluntary agreement with us and exit the formal process so pharmacists can start to have their voice heard in the company”, he added.
The PDA encouraged Superdrug pharmacists to share their views with the union about recognition as well as any questions they have.
“Constructive discussions”
A Superdrug spokesperson said that the company “continues to have constructive discussions with the PDA about the union’s recognition agreement”.
“Superdrug has informed the PDA and the CAC that the bargaining unit will include senior pharmacy managers, pharmacy managers, pharmacists, relief pharmacists and foundation pharmacist roles in England, Scotland and Wales,” they added.
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The PDA revealed in September that it had made a formal application to secure union recognition at Superdrug after getting the green light from the CAC.
Superdrug claimed at the time that the “proposed bargaining unit [was] unclear”, as well as arguing that its workers had offered “no indication” that they wanted union recognition.
The CAC, however, found that the PDA’s “formal request for recognition” had been made properly.