Pharmacists seek agreement after CAC win

The PDAU pharmacists’ union paused its statutory claim for recognition at the Lloyds chemist chain in December to give it and the company a chance to reach a voluntary agreement (see last issue).

Following the recognition claim lodged by the union, the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) accepted the union’s definition of the bargaining unit, and the next likely stage appeared to be a staff ballot.

However, the two sides said that if they could reach a voluntary agreement it would “remove the need for any ballot”.

The PDAU has also reached another voluntary recognition agreement covering over 300 pharmacists working for GP federations in Northern Ireland.