Meat strike called off as employers agree to pay

UNISON called off a planned Meat Hygiene strike last month after employers agreed to pay a long-overdue pay rise.

The 2.99% increase, backdated to August 2007, will be paid in the new year, in time to help with post-Christmas bills. As well as putting money into members’ pockets, the agreement also gives breathing space for further talks on changes to work patterns.

The strike would have seriously disrupted meat supplies across the country in the run-up to Christmas.

Simon Watson, the union’s national officer for meat inspectors, said: “We still have some tough talking to do over the ‘work anytime’ proposals and members have a right to expect movement on their 2008 pay deal.

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