The ongoing veterinarian strike threatens animal welfare, say pig farmers. The Icelandic Veterinary Association is a member of BHM, the Association of Academics, whose member unions have been on strike since mid-April.
Since vets are required to approve welfare conditions at slaughterhouses, no animals have been slaughtered during the strike. The Icelandic Veterinary Association did, however, authorized the limited slaughtering of chickens on animal welfare grounds last month and now pig farmers have requested limited slaughtering of pigs to avoid overcrowded facilities.
Read more: Two major Icelandic labour unions threaten strike actions
According to Charlotta Oddsdóttir, the spokesperson for the Icelandic Veterinary Association, the farmers’ request has been denied.
“Their request involved the meat being put on the market, something we find unacceptable at this time,” she told Fréttablaðið. The association authorized the limited slaughtering of chickens on the condition that the meat is stored until the strike is over. Pig farmers were offered the same deal, which they rejected.
Read more: More than 500 members of the Association of Academics begin a set of strikes
Representatives for BHM and the government met on Monday but little progress towards a collective agreement has been made. Charlotta fears the strike will linger on for some time and accuses the government of being unwilling to discuss the associations’ proposals.
The ongoing veterinarian strike threatens animal welfare, say pig farmers. The Icelandic Veterinary Association is a member of BHM, the Association of Academics, whose member unions have been on strike since mid-April.
Since vets are required to approve welfare conditions at slaughterhouses, no animals have been slaughtered during the strike. The Icelandic Veterinary Association did, however, authorized the limited slaughtering of chickens on animal welfare grounds last month and now pig farmers have requested limited slaughtering of pigs to avoid overcrowded facilities.
Read more: Two major Icelandic labour unions threaten strike actions
According to Charlotta Oddsdóttir, the spokesperson for the Icelandic Veterinary Association, the farmers’ request has been denied.
“Their request involved the meat being put on the market, something we find unacceptable at this time,” she told Fréttablaðið. The association authorized the limited slaughtering of chickens on the condition that the meat is stored until the strike is over. Pig farmers were offered the same deal, which they rejected.
Read more: More than 500 members of the Association of Academics begin a set of strikes
Representatives for BHM and the government met on Monday but little progress towards a collective agreement has been made. Charlotta fears the strike will linger on for some time and accuses the government of being unwilling to discuss the associations’ proposals.
