Pharmacy staff send message to NHS board with vote to strike

Pharmacy staff in NHS Tayside have voted in favour of strike action.

Everyone who voted in a recent ballot agreed to strike, as well as taking action short of a strike in a ballot by Unite the Union that had a 90% turnout.

The union is blaming the dispute on a “flawed job evaluation scheme” that they claim has led to a “number of grading issues” and which has apparently left pharmacy support workers being paid at a lower grade than they should be.

“Repeated” attempts to resolve this through the Partnership Agreement with the health board have been unsuccessful, the union claim.

A meeting between Unite representatives and the chief executive and chairman of NHS Tayside yesterday made some progress and both parties have agreed to continue talks on July 4.

Depending on that meeting, Unite will either call off industrial action or serve notice to strike.

If industrial action does take place, it will start on July 22.

Susan Robertson, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “Unite would like to state that we don’t take industrial action lightly and we are mindful that patients and their families would be affected.

“However, we believe the public would support our members’ stance if action is necessary.

“Pharmacy support workers are hardworking skilled professionals who provide dedicated and crucial service to patients, and they deserve to have that properly recognised,” she added.

Grant Archibald, NHS Tayside chief executive, said: “We had a planned meeting with Unite, the purpose of which was to seek to resolve a number of issues raised by the union.

“I am pleased to say this was a productive meeting and it was agreed that NHS Tayside would respond to further specific matters raised at a meeting on July 4.

“It is always the intention of the board in these ongoing discussions to protect services for our patients, work in partnership to address any areas of concern and seek to avoid industrial action.”