Veterinary professionals across Northern Ireland have raised concerns around pay and are considering strike action in the wake of an "unsatisfactory" pay award.
The strike action will begin on 30th October, and will last five days. It will involve union members in the Veterinary Service Animal Health Group (VSAHG).
The action will see over 150 veterinary staff employed by the VSAHG walk out at ports across Northern Ireland, with more staff to follow. It has been reported by the BBC that it is "not yet clear how disruptive the action would be".
The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) reported growing discontentment amongst the Northern Ireland veterinary community as they believe they are "being side lined in pay negotiations."
A representative from the Northern Ireland Veterinary Association said: "It's disheartening to see our colleagues in other parts of the UK being valued more than us. All we seek is fair pay for the essential services we provide."
AIMS stated that Northern Ireland's vets hope that raising awareness of the issue will bring about a "fair and equitable resolution, ensuring that they can continue to provide the high standards of care that the community expects and deserves".
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
