Practice pharmacists in Northern Ireland have signalled strong appetite for industrial action over pay, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has revealed.

A consultation of its members saw 90% of practice-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland indicate that they were prepared to take industrial action if a resolution is not found over the 2023/24 pay award.

The PDA said it had today written to the seventeen GP Federations across Northern Ireland to notify them of the results and that is now planned to move towards a formal ballot for industrial action.

The union claimed that GP Federations had received funding from the government in Northern Ireland to apply a pay award to GP staff, but that pharmacists had received different pay increases depending on where they worked.

It said it wanted to see GP employers give their pharmacists a 5% increase plus a lump sum of £1505, as was given to NHS staff in Northern Ireland under the 2023/24 pay deal.

It comes as concerns are raised over funding for a 2024/25 pay rise for practice pharmacists in England.

The PDA said it had decided to consult with members after an ‘impasse was reached in negotiations between GP Federation representatives and PDA officials’.

The union claimed GP employers ‘accepted no collective responsibility to ensure uniformity of application of the pay uplift’.

The consultation results showed that:

  • 100% of respondents disagreed with how the pay award has been applied
  • 100% of respondents stated that they do not agree with the actions of their employers that effectively breach the recognition agreement held between their employer and PDA
  • 90% indicated that they were prepared to take industrial action if satisfactory resolution is not achieved.

Following the consultation, the PDA said it is in ‘formal dispute’ with GP Federations and that PDA members are ‘now moving towards a ballot for industrial action’.

PDA national officer for Northern Ireland, Una O’Farrell said: ‘The PDA believes that equal work deserves equal reward.

‘I urge GP employers to acknowledge the valuable contribution pharmacists make to patient care in practices throughout Northern Ireland, and the need to pay salaries fairly and consistently.

‘We call on them to return to negotiations with revised proposals for the application of award, with a commitment to transparency going forward.’

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has been contacted for comment.