The work of the negotiating team starts long before the first meeting with management. They spent time researching pay trends and economic conditions, and undertook lots of listening to the PDA Union members within Boots to understand their thoughts, experiences and priorities. This year the former members of the Boots Pharmacists Association (BPA), who transferred into the PDA Union on 1 January, were included in this for the first time and invited to contribute to this exercise.
Obtaining member opinion involves a combination of written requests for data, online member meetings alongside continuous one-to-one interaction between PDA Union reps and the members. The negotiating team then produce a written pay claim which is duly submitted to the management, who respond and through a series of scheduled meetings both sides work towards reaching an agreement.
The details of the 2025 settlement are published in an eight-point joint statement issued on 30 September published here
Since store-based pharmacists voted for union recognition in 2019, there have been seven annual pay review cycles, where the PDA has negotiated pharmacists pay and several additional agreements between the parties which have addressed issues such as trainee pay rates. Settlements have typically given pharmacists greater percentage increases than those unilaterally decided by the company for its other professional graded roles, and this has happened again this year.
Gordon Finlayson, National Rep, on behalf of the negotiating team said “For 2025, a basic increase of 4% with additional increases to those who still have not reached the new agreed minimums, introduction of a new allowance for DPP supervision, 20% increase to the short notice allowance with a review of the eligibility criteria and establishment of reasonable travel principles for relief pharmacists adds up to another positive deal for Boots pharmacists. It compares well against the 3% increase given to other company employees with November review and to the 3.6% increase given to most professional peers in the NHS this year.”
Through the seven-year period, the PDA Union and management negotiating teams have developed an effective working relationship. Both sides seem to recognise and mutually respect the areas upon which there is agreement and those areas on which there is a difference of opinion. This attitude encourages honest feedback in both directions, which while it may not always lead to immediate change, it is nevertheless always heard.
The union have not secured every change they sought or has been suggested by members, however the combined agreements have materially improved the pay arrangements both in transparency and in the content, for example introducing minimum pay rates for those meeting certain criteria and introducing some new allowances. There is a significant difference to the structure of pharmacists’ annual pay review as a result.
The agreements have undoubtedly helped with recruitment and retention of employed pharmacists at Boots, which not only helps the company but also benefits colleagues who are otherwise impacted by carrying unwanted vacancies in teams. Improved transparency on pay has also allowed individuals, particularly those with longer service, to successfully query their precise level of pay.
While the negotiating team have concluded another annual process, there is no pause and consideration of the next pay cycle is already underway.
Get involved
Pharmacists employed at Boots can help to improve their own working conditions.
They can strengthen pharmacists’ negotiating power by improving union membership density. Although most pharmacists at Boots are already members, there are some who have not yet joined. The more engaged members the PDA Union has the more influence it has. The PDA therefore calls on pharmacists at Boots to:
- If not already a member, join
- If you know a colleague pharmacist, who is not already a member encourage them to join.
- Respond to requests for your opinion participate in online meetings as part of the process to prepare the pay claim.
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.