Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
By John Williams
Valley Vets workers are continuing their historic strike action with a second week and many more weeks possibly on the cards. Cardiff and Area Unite Community branch have already donated £500 to the strike fund, with more unite branches hopefully to follow. They’re striking for fair pay, fair fees and smaller profits. And there’s plenty of money to get negotiating with.
With 16 million households having at least one pet, it’s fair to say we’re an Island of pet lovers- and its big business. 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 just puts them above minimum wage. And research from Unite the Union has revealed that 80% of support staff have to repeatedly borrow to make ends meet- and 5% have had to use a food bank because their wages are simply not enough to live off. These are people who save the lives of our beloved animals.
But it’s not just pay that they’re striking over. Its care for the clients too. Since 2015, average vet costs in the UK have increased by 50%, with some clients having to take the awful decision to put their pets to sleep due to not being able to afford pet costs anymore. This overcharging is forcing the hand of many pet owners, with vet receptionists having to explain cost increases they don’t even agree with.
During a picket, the CEO crossed a picket and spoke to striking workers in an emotional discussion for about 15 minutes. In response to a worker saying she could get a better paid job at Aldi, the CEO replied with “the reality is, you might have to do that”. Not that we’re against supermarket workers, but the fact that a CEO was just dismissive about concerns over pay, she’d be more than happy to see staff go is shocking. Amazingly, in response to worries about pay, she said “I had to take a wage increase or I wouldn’t be taken seriously as a CEO”. Its easy for her to say that with a gross annual wage of £450,000 plus bonuses!
It’s clear at the moment that Valley Vets don’t want to seriously discuss with the union. She repeatedly said that striking workers were just “playing into the media hype about ‘fair fees’… the fees isn’t a union issue”. A rep there explained that it was, because its causing distress to members and clients have been complaining. She accused them of ‘bringing the profession into disrepute because of our emphasis on fair fees’… its clear that what CEOs are saying and what the mood is on the ground is very different- and it’s the workers who know the reality of what’s going on because they are there most days.
The CEO also repeatedly said that Vet Partners is close to bankruptcy. This shocked all the workers there, as the money Vet Partners make is huge, especially as owners are willing to pay for their pets. But as a supporter from Unite Community said on the picket line, “Open the books”. Just six firms have a monopoly over the veterinary industry in the UK, and its clear left to their own devices they are unable to provide adequate pay rises and provide fair fees too.
The finances of Vet Partners should be open to trade union inspection, let the workers see where the money is going. These big corporations should be nationalised, alongside pet food companies and the pharmaceuticals. This could be used to make medicines affordable and to pay vets better. The resources required to run an effective veterinary system should be controlled by people who understand what it’s like to both work and depend on such a system.
Strikers are appealing for support for the strike fund:
Unite NW 6821 British Veterinary Union
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