Pharmacy workers vote by 100% for strike action at NHS Tayside

Unite the Union has today ( 28 June ) confirmed that its pharmacy support workers at NHS Tayside in a 90 per cent turnout have voted by 100 per cent in favour of strike action, and action short of a strike. 

The dispute relates to a failure by NHS Tayside to acknowledge the duties of pharmacy support workers. Due to a flawed job evaluation scheme, a number of grading issues have arisen in NHS Tayside since 2009 which has consequently resulted in pharmacy support workers being paid at a lower grade than they should be. Unite has repeatedly attempted to resolve this through the agreed Partnership Agreement with NHS Tayside with no success.  

However, Unite can confirm it met with senior management today including the Chief Executive and Chairman of NHS Tayside where degrees of progress were made on the substantive points of the dispute. Both parties have agreed to reconvene talks on Thursday 4 July. Depending on the outcome of the prospective meeting, Unite will either call off the prospective industrial action or serve notice of industrial action with continuous action starting from Monday 22 July.

Susan Robertson, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “Pharmacy support workers have sent the strongest possible message to NHS Tayside. In a turnout out of 90 percent, every single Unite member voted for strike action, and action short of a strike. This result illustrates the deep frustrations and anger our members feel at their mistreatment by NHS Tayside. 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 that the public would support our members’ stance if action is necessary. Pharmacy support workers are hardworking skilled professionals who provide a dedicated and crucial service to patients, and they deserve to have that properly recognised.”