Vet Industrial Action ‘temporarily suspended’ to allow mediation via the Labour Relations Agency

Veterinary staff employed by the DAERA had escalated industrial action in their long-runningdispute over pay and grading.

The long running industrial action by DAERA vets has been temporarily suspended to allow mediation via the Labour Relations Agency to resolve the dispute, NIPSA has told NIVT. Veterinary staff employed by the DAERA had escalated industrial action in their long-running dispute over pay and grading.

More than 30 vets, represented by the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA), are involved in the dispute, which has remained unresolved for over a decade. The union says repeated attempts to secure meaningful engagement had failed. In July Stormont threatened Northern Ireland vets with 25% pay deduction over the industrial action. Public sector union Nipsa claimed the unprecedented move is unlawful. SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Daniel McCrossan MLA slammed the threat from DAERA to cut the wages of vets for taking industrial action. A department official had told a union that government vets could face cuts of 25% to pay for taking action short of a strike.West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan said at the time: “This is a disgraceful attack on workers’rights from DAERA and the Minister must urgently clarify his position on this. Instead of working with unions to resolve this dispute, they have turned to threats of pay deductions that will only escalate the situation further.

“Veterinary staff play a vital role within DAERA, from carrying out animal health checks and safeguarding welfare standards to supporting our farming community and protecting public health.“At a time when the Executive has failed to progress the Good Jobs Bill, it is alarming that a government department thinks this is an appropriate way to deal with a legitimate workplace dispute and workers exercising their lawful right to industrial action. I urge the Minister to move away from this approach, get around the table and resolve this dispute.”

The dispute was formally notified to DAERA on 20 March, but initial contact from the Department did not occur until 18 May. NIPSA had criticised what it describes as a lack of urgency in addressing the issue. Industrial action began on 1 May, with members withdrawing from on-call duties, training activities and supervision of on-farm TB testing. With no progress made, the action intensified from 1 June to include withdrawal from on-farm TB testing and a range of certification and technical duties.The dispute came amid wider concerns around veterinary staffing pressures within DAERA and increasing reliance on agency provision.

NIPSA Assistant Secretary Alan Law said at the time: “Our members have shown considerable patience, yet DAERA has failed to engage meaningfully to resolve this long-standing issue.”