Vets prepared for industrial action
by Hazel Gavigan
 
“If there is no solution forthcoming, it is inevitable that our members will embark on industrial action,” said head of division, Peter Nolan..

Industrial action by local authority vets, over a proposal to transfer them from council employment to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), remains a possibility in an ongoing dispute between the FSAI and local authority management. Fórsa is due to meet management today (Friday) to discuss the situation.

 

The dispute arose after the County and City Management Association (CMMA) and the FSAI failed to agree on the renewal of a service level agreement (SLA) which covers the cost of inspections of small abattoirs, including craft butchers and artisan food producers.

 

Local authority chief executives have since stated that the existing SLA with the FSAI will end on 30th November.

 

Under the current SLA, local authority vets provide food safety controls, including inspection of all animals before and after slaughter. They service around 600 food businesses that supply meats to retailers and establishments, including nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and canteens.

 

Head of Fórsa’s local government and local services division, Peter Nolan, said the dispute is between two large public bodies about who should pay for the service: “The employment status of vets must not be used as a bargaining chip. The CMMA and FSAI should be required to enter into an adjudication process, rather than risk disruption to hundreds of local businesses.

 

“If there is no solution forthcoming, it is inevitable that our members will embark on industrial action,” he said.

 

Management have signalled their intention to compulsorily transfer 34 local authority vets by way of Transfer of Undertakings legislation, or the redeployment provisions in the public service stability agreement.

 

Fórsa’s local government and local services divisional executive committee flatly rejected this suggestion, and members voted unanimously in favour of industrial action last June. 

 

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