Food - Inspectors vote to strike
WORKERS, DECEMBER 2008 ISSUE
Meat hygiene inspectors have voted two to one in favour of strike action in a dispute over cuts to overtime payments and the introduction of a “work anytime” system, says Unison. The union members – who make sure that the meat on our plates, including the traditional Christmas turkey, is safe to eat – voted for strike action by 2 to 1.
They also voted by around 4 to 1 for action short of a strike, with a 70 per cent turn-out in a ballot which ended on 21 November.
“This is a decisive vote for strike action and shows the strength of feeling of meat inspectors,” said Unison national officer Simon Watson. He warned that without an agreement the industry could lose millions of pounds in lost meat production in the run up to Christmas.