John Williams, Socialist Party Wales
Valley Vets workers are continuing their historic strike action with a second week, and many more weeks possibly on the cards. They’re striking for fair pay, fair fees and smaller profits.
And there’s plenty of money to get negotiating with. The whole veterinary service is worth £2 billion – £5 billion if you include other pet-related services. And Vet Partners, who own Valley Vets, made a gross profit of £553 million last year – nearly £120 million more than the year before. So it’s disgraceful that the pay offer for the lowest paid puts them just above minimum wage.
CEO
The CEO crossed a picket line and spoke to striking workers. In response to a worker saying she could get a better-paid job at Aldi, the CEO replied: “The reality is, you might have to do that”. She followed it up with: “I had to take a wage increase or I wouldn’t be taken seriously as a CEO”. Easy for her to say, with a gross annual wage of £450,000 plus bonuses!
But it’s not just pay that they’re striking over. It’s care for the clients too. Since 2015, average vet costs in the UK have increased by 50%, with some clients having to take the decision to put their pets to sleep due to not being able to afford vet fees. The boss accused strikers of bringing the profession into disrepute because of the emphasis on fair fees.
‘Open the books’
The CEO also claimed that Vet Partners is close to bankruptcy. A supporter of the strike responded: “Open the books!”
Just six firms have a monopoly over the veterinary industry in the UK. These big corporations should be nationalised, alongside major pet food companies and the pharmaceuticals.
Strikers are appealing for support for the strike fund:
- Unite NW 6821 British Veterinary Union, Sort Code: 60 83 01, Account: 20324944, Reference: Valley
- See full article at socialistpartywales.org.uk
