The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) yesterday (January 14) announced that it will hold a “secret postal ballot” later this month to secure union recognition at Superdrug.
The ballot will “determine if pharmacists and foundation trainees at Superdrug secure an independent voice at work”, the body said.
Read more: PDA ballot could secure Superdrug union recognition ‘by spring’
PDA Union director Paul Day told C+D that the formal “ballot period” will begin next week on January 20, with voting scheduled to take place between January 28 and February 17 – when the outcome is set to be “confirmed”.
“It is an entirely secret ballot,” he added, stressing that “nobody at Superdrug or at the PDA Union will know who votes nor how any individual voted”.
“Unfair laws”
Around 260 pharmacists and foundation trainees will be sent ballot packs for the secret vote, Day said.
“In order for pharmacists to secure trade union recognition they must both have a majority of votes in favour and at least 40% of those eligible to vote must vote ‘Yes’,” he added.
Read more: PDA: Superdrug management ‘ill informed’ about union recognition
PDA Union general secretary Mark Pitt said that although this “would seem reasonable...[the] unfair laws mean if less than 40% vote ‘Yes’ it won’t happen, even if nobody votes ‘No’ to union recognition”.
“Therefore it is imperative that all pharmacists are encouraged to participate in this democratic process,” he added.
“We are united”
“Pharmacists like you and me have influence through the PDA because we are many and because we are united – this is an occasion when we can demonstrate that power,” Pitt stressed.
“We’ve won before, let’s make sure we can do it again,” he said, pointing to the PDA’s success in securing union recognition at Boots in 2019.
Read more: Superdrug agrees to PDA Union’s bargaining unit proposals
In a letter to PDA members, the body said that securing union recognition is “not just about pay”, explaining that it would “further expand pharmacists’ influence” and make “the pharmacy environment safer” for all employees.
It added that Superdrug workers “don’t have to be a PDA member to vote in the ballot”.
Read more: ‘Numerous benefits’: PDA steams ahead with Superdrug union recognition
The PDA first made a formal application to secure union recognition at Superdrug in August.
And in November, it confirmed that a “formal ballot” would take place with the vote forecast to be concluded “by the spring”.
