The award also introduces an extra pay point for bands 8a – 9 so that instead of waiting to move to the top of the band in one step after five years in role, pharmacists at this band will have an intermediate increase after two years in role, and then move to the top of band after a further three years.
The PDA has a significant influence over the pay of members directly employed in the NHS by submitting evidence to the Pay Review Body, evidence that concentrates entirely on issues directly affecting pharmacists. The PDA expects this resulting award described above to be fully funded centrally and implemented across the four nations, although separate negotiations take place in Scotland, and the final figure there will be agreed through that process.
The PDA can directly influence the pay of members covered by recognition agreements at other employers too. This includes Boots and LloydsPharmacy Healthcare Services Ltd (LP HCS) in the community sector, those employed by GP practices in Northern Ireland, and members employed by arms length companies wholly owned by NHS organisations.
By influencing pay in these key areas, the PDA also has an indirect impact on terms and conditions throughout the profession as increases at major employers also impact market rates
Pay is of course critically important to pharmacists and their families. After a difficult period where government and companies sought to hold members pay increases to a minimum following Covid-19, and then the initial impact of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, PDA Union negotiators are now beginning to have a real impact on pay, securing increases in all areas that are significantly above inflation.
Paul Moloney, PDA Union National Officer, who leads negotiations in many areas said, “This year we really have seen the benefit for pharmacists of being in a trade union. We have secured increases of more than double the current rate of inflation, meaning members income has grown faster than the increase in prices. This is the start of a process that must continue so that we see a real improvement in members’ standard of living.”
The PDA looks forward to working constructively with community pharmacy employers and with NHS employers to continue this trend.
Paul continued, “The circumstances are now right for us to be optimistic that the years of low or no increases are over. It is important that this recent period is not seen as the norm and that we work in partnership with employers as we return to the post war consensus of seeing modest but real improvements in living standards achieved year on year as wage increases outstrip the increases in prices.”
The PDA works hard for all members wherever they are employed and, wherever members can secure recognition for their union, the PDA can support pharmacists to negotiate for better pay. For example, in March 2023, the PDA agreed on a pay deal worth 5.75% for pharmacists at LloydsPharmacy just as that business was selling all of its high street branches. PDA recognition continues at the remaining LP HCS business where a further 5% pay settlement was agreed in March 2024.
Meanwhile at Boots in October 2023, the PDA negotiated a 5% increase plus £750 to be paid this month (August 2024), which equated to a 6.5% deal overall. The 2024 pay talks are due to start at Boots later this month.
Members at employers where the PDA does not yet negotiate pay may want to find out more about becoming a PDA Workplace Representative in the first instance. Growing the PDA membership at an employer and having at least one PDA member trained as a union representatives can be the first steps towards securing collective bargaining arrangements at any employer.
Paul Day, PDA Union Director added, “Recognition brings real tangible benefits not just in pay but in areas such as training, health and safety, and workload concerns. Where pharmacists engage in their union, the PDA, and remain united then collective bargaining can secure many improvements to their working environment. The first steps on the journey to recognition are to recruit colleagues and for some members to become trained workplace reps. Anyone who is interested should get in contact.”
Learn more
- PDA Workplace Reps
- PDA responds to NHS pay announcement
- Joint statement from Boots and the PDA Union on the 2023 pay deal
- PDA agrees 2023 pay settlement with Hallo Healthcare
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.