The national media are reporting that McKesson UK has a plan to dispose of their c.1,500 branch community pharmacy business. Although the company has declined to comment, the PDA Union nevertheless is reassuring union members that it will support them through the implications of any such strategy being implemented.
The PDA Union recently secured trade union recognition rights at the company and is in the process of establishing it’s network of union representatives and consultative/negotiating structures across the business.
Paul Day, PDA Director said: “Whatever the future brings for the LloydsPharmacy business the PDA Union will continue to act in the interests of our members and will be supporting them to exercise their rights at work.”
The PDA understand that should any commercial negotiations occur to sell the business they would likely be subject to confidentiality arrangements, however the union would expect the company to be open and transparent with its employees and to communicate with them as soon as they are able to do so, and to keep their recognised union representatives informed.
Mr Day added: “Pharmacists will have a number of concerns if the reported strategy were to be implemented, such as: Who is buying the business? Will it be kept together? What will be the consequences for my branch, my working hours and my employment? Whatever the answers to these questions, PDA members can be assured that we will be alongside them to ensure their voice is heard and to support them.”
The PDA team includes experts in employment law so can help with a wide range of possible changes that could emerge from a potential sale. Trade Unions can generally only give legal advice to members and pharmacists are therefore encouraged to join the PDAU and similarly the PDA encourage other members of the store team to join an appropriate union for them.
Mr Day concluded “Our members will be understandably concerned about these media reports, however we can say that whoever owns the business and whatever shape or structure it has in future, the PDA will be there for our members. We are already hearing from some pharmacists who are worried by what they are seeing in the media and we will be keeping members advised if and when this situation progresses.”