FSA staff reject industrial action
Meat Management has learnt that the strike ballot affecting staff at the FSA (Food Standards Agency), which closed at the end of October, has not resulted in industrial action by staff.
Last month UNISON warned that a vote for industrial action could result in strikes in the run up to and over Christmas, leading to less meat on supermarket shelves.
Robert Locker, head of field operations at the FSA told Meat Management: “The FSA values the important role played by its frontline staff, and our work to ensure public safety in relation to food, and animal welfare will continue.”
The FSA also confirmed that the pay award for Agency staff ranges between 2%-5%.
It also confirmed that in determining the annual pay award, the Food Standards Agency works within the pay remit guidance, which is published by central Government. It said that the pay award (between 2-5%) provided by the FSA this year reflects that position.
The ballot outcome will come as positive news for the meat industry as any industrial action by FSA staff would have had the potential to bring a lot of the meat supply chain to a standstill because, without meat hygiene inspectors and official veterinarians, animals cannot be slaughtered, and meat cannot be released and sent for sale in shops.
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