Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. August 2025
    2. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    3. July 2025
    4. June 2025
    5. 2025 Innovation supplement
    6. May 2025
    7. April 2025
    8. March 2025
    9. 2025 Buildings supplement
    10. February 2025
    11. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    12. January 2025
    13. December 2024
    14. November 2024
    15. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    16. October 2024
    17. September 2024
    18. August 2024
    19. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    20. July 2024
    21. June 2024
    22. 2024 Innovation supplement
    23. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    24. May 2024
    25. April 2024
    26. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    27. March 2024
    28. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    29. February 2024
    30. January 2024
    31. December 2023
    32. November 2023
    33. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    34. October 2023
    35. September 2023
    36. Health Supplement
    Featured

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025
    Recent

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    August 1, 2025

    2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement now available

    August 1, 2025

    July 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    July 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Business

Relief for meat sector as FSA strike averted after UNISON ballot

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverNovember 2, 20222 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Food Standards Agency (FSA) staff will not be striking over pay in the run up to Christmas, following a ballot of UNISON members, in what will come as a huge relief to the meat industry.

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, had warned that the dispute involving several hundred inspectors, vets, and office-based staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland could result in strikes in the run up to and over Christmas leading to less meat on supermarket shelves.

Earlier in the year, FSA staff voted to reject a pay offer of between 2% and 5%. UNISON said this was significantly lower than inflation, currently 9.9%, and falls short of the 10% pay claim it put forward.

But the three-week ballot of FSA employees, which closed on Monday (October 31), fell short of the numbers required to bring about strike action.

A UNISON spokesperson said: “Staff showed strong support for taking action over their inadequate pay offer, but by the narrowest possible margin, turnout didn’t meet the legal threshold.”

Robert Locker, head of field operations at the FSA said: “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 agency pointed out that, in determining the annual pay award that it works within the pay remit guidance published by central government. The agency’s 2-5% pay award reflects that position.

British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) chief executive Nick Allen had warned that possible strike action by FSA staff had the potential to bring parts of the meat supply chain ‘to a standstill’, especially against the backdrop of ongoing labour shortages. Some pork plants are still recording vacancy rates of 15-23%, according to BMPA.

Mr Allen said the timing of the strikes would have caused maximum damage to the whole domestic and export supply chain, disrupting Christmas supplies and causing serious animal welfare problem on farms if processors couldn’t process sufficient numbers of animals.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleAwards Supplement 2022
Next Article Rugby World Cup winner to host National Pig Awards
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

AHDB reports that English red meat sector contributed £5.5bn to UK economy in 2023

August 28, 2025

Morgan sisters’ Iron Will challenge

August 28, 2025

Government details how upcoming SPS agreement with the EU will benefit industry and consumers

August 28, 2025
Latest News

AHDB reports that English red meat sector contributed £5.5bn to UK economy in 2023

August 28, 2025

Morgan sisters’ Iron Will challenge

August 28, 2025

Government details how upcoming SPS agreement with the EU will benefit industry and consumers

August 28, 2025
Sponsored Content

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1770 Shropshire

    • Shropshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson Farm Worker – Ref 1769 UK

    • United Kingdom
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Team Leader & Farrowing Manager

    • South Canterbury, New Zealand
    • Aparima Wharf Ltd
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Weekly Tribune
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.