The Pharmacists’ Defence Association Union (PDAU) has pledged to give £1 to charity for each vote cast in a ballot next year that will determine if Boots pharmacists can have independent trade union representation.

Echoing a promise made in the run-up to the first vote in June this year, which saw 2,826 pharmacists vote to scrap its agreement with the Boots Pharmacists Association from 3,308 returned ballot papers, which included 46 invalid papers, the PDAU said it would donate the money to charity “regardless of which way Boots pharmacist and pre-registration pharmacists vote."

The second ballot runs for five weeks and starts on February 4. 

The PDAU could become the representative for those pharmacists on issues such as pay, hours and working conditions if 40% of those eligible to vote choose to support its application.

The PDAU said it raised £3,308 for Macmillan Cancer support during the first ballot and said it hoped to raise twice as much this time round.

“We hope as many eligible Boots pharmacists and pre-registration pharmacists will exercise their right to vote and that we will be giving an even larger amount to charity this time,” said Mark Pitt, assistant general secretary of the PDAU.