Striking pharmacy workers stay hopeful as 11th week out looms

Pharmacy workers on strike are hopeful a resolution can be found as they prepare to enter the 11th week of their walkout.

The workers have been on strike since August 19 in a dispute over pay grades.

A job evaluation panel will meet tomorrow, followed by a consistency panel on Tuesday to review the workers’ banding grade.

Unite representative Steven Smith said workers are worried over legal protection as it is only available for 12 weeks.

Staff will be forced to go back to work, but are determined to get a resolution beforehand.

Central to the dispute is the workers’ claim that they have been on the health board’s second-lowest pay grade, earning between £17,949 and £20,015 a year, despite their job role changing significantly over the last decade.

They now want the health board to acknowledge the duties they carry out as part of their job.

Mr Smith said: “I don’t know when the consistency panel will issue its decision.

“I am hopeful the panel will give us a positive outcome.

“There could also be a case for back pay because this issue has been ongoing for the past 10 years.

“There are people who are no longer employed by the health board who are entitled to this pay.”

It is claimed the two-month strike has meant the pharmacy workers could bond and strengthen as a team.

An NHS Tayside spokesperson said: “The board remains committed to resolving this issue in good faith via a transparent and independent process which will ensure our staff can return to normal working.”