Meat hygiene workers stage FSA no pay protest

The workers, who also include vets, were employed by the FSA through agency Grants Veterinary Services but have not received wages or allowances, due at the end of March, says the union.

The protest will be held outside the FSA’s London offices and is a result of more than 100 workers going without payment from Grants for up to two months, according to Unison.

Money owed​

The contract has subsequently been handed to out-sourced veterinery control firm Eville and Jones following a tender process that followed the completion of the FSA's contract with Grant.

Eville and Jones has agreed to pay the staff the money owed and has already provided many of the struggling workers with loans, Unison has claimed.

But the union is concerned that the cost of the outstanding payments will jeopardise the employees’ future conditions. It also called on the FSA to ensure the wages are received or involve the police.

Simon Watson, Unison national officer, said: “Despite not being paid, our members have continued working to safeguard animal welfare and to make sure that the meat on our plates is safe to eat. If they hadn’t worked, our meat supply could have been disrupted​.

Perilous state​

 “The FSA needs to recognise this commitment, and do the right thing by getting a grip of this situation. The agency were warned about the perilous state of the original contractor but refused to take the warnings seriously. Now the vets and their families are paying the price. Unison will hold both the FSA and Grants to account over the missing money.”​

The FSA acknowledged that the staff had not been paid and confirmed plans to recoup the payments were underway.

A spokeswoman said: “The FSA is aware that the staff, formerly employed by Grants Veterinary Services, have not been paid by their former employer, who is no longer retained as a contractor by the FSA.​

“We have had a number of discussions with their new employer who has undertaken to pay the outstanding salaries, and we believe payments have now been made.​”

The FSA also told FoodManufacture.co.uk that legal proceedings were currently in process and confirmed it could not reveal anymore information as a result.