Unite survey on ‘exploited’ junior vets’ pay and employment
conditions
10 August 2011
Junior vets are being exploited over pay and benefits, such as
holidays and maternity rights, by senior managers and academics in
UK veterinary schools, the British Veterinary Union (BVU) in Unite
has warned.
Now the BVU, a section of Unite, the largest union in the
country, is conducting an online survey to discover the extent of
the abuses.
The concern centres on the fact that some of the UK veterinary
schools have converted their salaried internships into ‘training
scholarships’, denying junior vets full employment rights,
holidays, and benefits such as pensions, sickness pay and maternity
rights.
The problem has been further highlighted by a letter to the
media by professor John Innes, at the University of Liverpool and
formerly head of the Small Animal Division between 2001-2009, who
wrote: ”Some senior academics and managers in UK veterinary schools
are effectively exploiting their eager and enthusiastic young
colleagues.
”These same senior academic managers then often complain that it
is difficult to get veterinary graduates to train in research by
undertaking a PhD. Is it any wonder?”
Dr Shams Mir, chairman, Professional Advisory Committee, BVU in
Unite, said: ”Professor Innes’ concerns are well-founded and I fear
that this is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploitation.
It is demeaning to the profession as a whole - that’s why we are
carrying out the survey to discover the extent of the
problems.”
The recent link-up of the BVU with Unite is designed to give
extra industrial muscle to root out such abuses in the veterinary
profession.
The survey can be accessed from: www.bvu.org.uk
An update about the survey will be provided in due course.
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information please contact Unite professional
officer, Carol English, on 07919 324716 and/or Unite communications
officer, Shaun Noble, on 07768 693940.
At present, Unite has a small veterinary profession membership,
but this is expected to grow rapidly following the agreement
between Unite and the BVU.
The history of the BVU is outlined below:
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ statutory mandate is
aimed at maintaining high professional standards, however its remit
does not cover employment matters. The other veterinary bodies
claiming to represent vets have continued to maintain their
historical focus on the business interests of vets and the policy
matters affecting the profession, but have failed to change their
mandate to enable them to directly confront the problems faced by
the grassroots members of the profession.
As a result, a campaign to set up a new organisation, the
British Veterinary Union (BVU), with a clear mandate to look after
the welfare of vets and nurses was launched three years ago,
attracting an unprecedented level of discussion in the veterinary
press. A recent independent survey of UK vets showed majority
support for the BVU.
The BVU aims at not only looking after the interests of vets and
nurses, but will also look after the interests of all other groups
working in the veterinary profession. The BVU’s aim is to work with
all UK veterinary professionals and professional bodies to improve
the lives of those working within the veterinary profession.
The BVU in Unite welcomes membership of veterinary surgeons,
veterinary students, veterinary nurses, veterinary nurse students,
veterinary auxiliary/support staff, and veterinary practice
managers/receptionists.
