Forty-eight jobs to go as merger of Sangers and AAH Pharmaceuticals proceeds to completion

January 29th: Unite Regional Officer George Brash confirmed his union was engaging with McKesson Corporation management with the aim of avoiding compulsory job-losses at Sangers-AAH. 

“In September 2015, United Drugs announced its intention to sell Sangers to McKesson Corporation. Since the acquisition completed in March 2016, Unite has sought to minimise the impact on our members of the transfer and merger with AAH Pharmaceuticals – the other leading supplies medical distributor in Northern Ireland. Unite represents approximately two hundred former Sanger workers, primarily drivers, who will continue to be central to the success of this business.

“Today’s announcement that forty-eight jobs will go across both businesses as a result of the completed merger process will not be news to our members but it will still be concerning to the Sangers-AAH Pharmaceuticals workforce. Unite will continue to engage directly with management to ensure that the interests of our members are defended fully.

“While we remain optimistic that the redundancies confirmed today can be met on a voluntary basis, meaning compulsory redundancies can be avoided, this is still a net loss of forty-eight jobs to the Northern Ireland economy. It also substantively increases the dependence of the entire pharmacy sector on one major distributor. We will want to see assurances that the terms and conditions of our members are upheld throughout the process”, Mr Brash finished.