Pharmacists’ body has wrong chemistry

The government certification office has refused to certify the Boots Pharmacists Association (BPA) as an independent union on the grounds that it is “liable to interference by Boots”.

The BPA applied for certification at a time when another organisation, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association Union (PDAU), was seeking recognition at the chemist chain (see Labour Research, March 2013, page 7).

Boots declined to recognise the PDAU, which is certified as independent, but quickly recognised the BPA. The PDAU said Boots recognised the BPA in order to block its own claim, and described the association as being “in the pocket of management”.

In the event, the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), which runs the statutory recognition process, allowed the PDAU to pursue its recognition claim by making an amendment to the statutory recognition rules. Boots is challenging that decision.

In the meantime, the PDAU’s claim for statutory recognition is proceeding and the CAC has found that 30.2% of the bargaining unit are PDAU members.