The PDA provides membership data annually to the Certification Officer, the government body that regulates trade unions and employer organisations. In addition, as a trade union with more than 10,000 members, the PDA has an obligation to publish independently certified membership figures, and so the PDA membership numbers are externally audited before being reported.
The latest figures are for the year ending 31 March 2021 and the audited data confirms that membership is now at a highest-ever figure of 32,582 members.
PDA Union General Secretary, John Murphy said: “Increasing our membership by more than a seventh since 2019 gives an indication of how the PDA is needed and valued by pharmacists. I encourage any individual employed or locum pharmacist who has not yet joined the PDA, to do so as soon as possible.”
How membership has grown over recent years
31 March 2019 – 28,213 members
31 March 2020 – 30,393 members (a 7.7% increase)
31 March 2021 – 32,582 members (a further 7.2% increase)
By working together as the PDA, members are able to help the voice of individual pharmacists be heard across the UK, to get involved in campaigns and networks, to have an independent voice at work and collectively challenge the dominance of employers and their representative organisations, to access PDA Education and the many other PDA member benefits, to protect their individual reputation and interests should they be involved in a dispute at work or need representation, and much more.
PDA Director, Paul Day added: “We value each of our existing members and their contribution to our successes. Though we have grown significantly we look forward to welcoming many more members into the PDA in future.”
Related links
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, pre-regs and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.