This proposed increase is set against the context of the latest inflation figures showing CPI (Consumer Price Index) reaching 3.5% and the recent NHS pay agreement in Scotland, where pay is negotiated with health unions. This year’s agreement for NHS staff in Scotland was for 8% over two years (4.25% in April 2025 and a further 3.75% in April 2026).
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are no pay negotiations, instead a pay review body arrangement exists. The pay review body (PRB) or “review body” is a government-appointed standing committee tasked with assessing evidence submitted by the government, trade unions, and other ‘interested parties’ on the principal terms and conditions of service of those working in a particular sphere of the public sector. After considering this evidence, along with any relevant research, the committee issues recommendations to the government.
The new government has said that it values public sector workers and suggested that it will reinstate the real terms value of wages for those in the NHS over the coming years. Pharmacists had therefore said that they believed an above inflation increase would be reasonable this year.
The government’s evidence to the PRB was that it would only be able to afford 2.8% in 2025. After taking evidence from trade unions and assessing economic and other factors the PRB recommendation published today was for an increase of 3.6%. The government accepted the PRB’s recommendation in full and intends to implement that increase in August salary payments, backdated to 1 April. The increase in England appears to be fully funded, and the PDA call on governments in Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure their NHS pay increases will also be fully funded when they make similar announcements.
In pay negotiations, trade unions are required to respond to the offer from government/employers. Under the PRB arrangement there is no requirement for any agreement to be reached by the unions that represent the workers involved and the increase will automatically be implemented.
Trade unions can influence in many ways and on some previous occasions union members have so strongly opposed the level of increase that by supporting an industrial action ballot and/or taking action, they have caused the government to reconsider. However, this is not always the case and taking such action is not something which would ever be undertaken lightly by pharmacists.
The PDA is a member led organisation and therefore it is now for members to indicate their collective view as to how the PDA should respond.
Pharmacists get a voice
The PDA has more than 7,000 NHS-employed pharmacists in membership and is now part of the NHS Staff Side structures. PDA members covered by the scope of the pay increase are those directly employed on Agenda for Change contracts in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and they are therefore invited to express their views to inform the PDA’s response.
PDA members will have a range of opinions, they are all valid and will all be heard.
If there is no mandate to challenge the increase then it is still not the end of the story. For example the PRB process for 2026 pay review will commence soon, and the government has also agreed to let the NHS staff side begin negotiating reforms to the Agenda for Change pay structure with a commitment to funding structural reforms in 2026/27. The PDA will continue to contribute to these processes.
Alternatively, if there is sufficient support for a potential ballot then this would be considered. The experience of some other unions has shown that the government’s restrictive rules, designed to make it difficult for working people to lawfully take industrial action, means trade unions should test members’ strength of feeling before balloting.
The attached survey therefore enables PDA members to confirm if they are prepared to accept this increase for this year, or if not, for them confirm their attitude to taking industrial action.
Industrial Action ballots
Unlike almost every other part of modern society, the law relating to trade union ballots only allows postal voting. The government refuses to allow an electronic voting option, which is widely recognised as one way that would increase participation. Electronic voting would also be less expensive and better for the environment.
Trade unions are not only forced to rely upon postal ballots, but for lawful industrial action to be taken, the result must also meet three tests:
- At least 50% of eligible voters must vote.
- At least 40% of eligible voters must vote ‘yes’.
- A majority of votes must be for ‘yes’.
The result of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) ballot during 2022 in England is a prime example of how impactful this law can be. Despite the fact that more than 10,000 RCM members voted for industrial action (88% of those who voted), the ballot was unsuccessful because the ballot turnout was only 47% of eligible members.
Paul Day, PDA Union Director said ”The PDA will carefully review the outcome of the survey to decide our next steps and continue to keep members informed.
Once again I encourage all eligible members to participate.”
Note: Despite being one of the largest health trade unions with 40,000 members, PDA is relatively young. No groups of PDA’s members have yet voted in favour of industrial action at any point in our short history, but as an independent trade union it remains an option. This is not unusual, and some other unions existed for up to a century before their members ever opted for such action. Great care would always be taken to ensure any arrangements do not put patients at unacceptable risk should industrial action be taken.
Learn more
- “NHS workers awarded real terms pay rises for second year in row” says government
- Wes Streeting’s statement to parliament
- Pay Review Body Report and recommendation in full
- Negotiated pay deal with NHS Scotland
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