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Trade union GMB Scotland will not be recognised for collective bargaining by independent pharmacy chain Lindsay and Gilmour after just three out of 12 eligible workers took part in a voting exercise. 

The union had applied to represent a group of 12 pharmacy technicians and pharmacy dispensers at two of the Scottish chain’s Edinburgh branches, one on Leith Walk and the other on Elm Row.  

After it was established that a majority of the prospective bargaining unit were not already GMB members, the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) ordered that a secret ballot be held.

Ballot papers were posted out on March 9, 2026, and were to be returned by no later than midday of March 20.

While all of the workers who returned ballots expressed their support for the union recognition proposals, they comprised just three out of 12 who were sent ballots.

“The ballot did not establish that at least 40 per cent of the workers in the bargaining unit supported the proposal that the union be recognised by the employer for the purposes of collective bargaining within the bargaining unit,” said the CAC as it declared the GMB “is not recognised by the employer” for collective bargaining purposes.