- Vets and others have always been free to join Unite or other large unions; what is new about the BVU?
In the past veterinary surgeons or nurses joining a larger union would individually enjoy the benefits of representation at work, but without any specialist professional input to address their specific needs and problems. Whereas few vets have joined existing unions, it is not surprising that an independent survey involving 500 vets showed that majority of vets expressed the need for a veterinary union (see the related item at the bottom of the home page).
The British Veterinary Union in Unite (BVU) with its own Profession Advisory Committee at the helm of affairs, eventually with vets and nurses as reps, will provide a service tailored for the veterinary professionals, whether they have employment related problems or are facing fitness to practice hearing with the RCVS. Obviously, such a service would have not been available to veterinary professionals as ordinary members of big unions.
Similarly, the existing unions have no mandate or remit to address issues other than that of individual members. On the other hand BVU will not only address issues faced by individuals but it will also address the issue affecting the whole membership, from which even the non members will benefit. The BVU is already working to the benefit of every veterinary surgeon.
The Vets4BVU, the precursor organisation for BVU, was the only organisation to make an in depth review of the RCVS draft Health Protocol and our extensive recommendations made a well recognised impact, though we do not think the changes made to the protocol by RCVS reached far enough. Recently BVU has fully challenged the validity of much of the draft Code of Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons, which is going to determine as to how the vets will conduct as professionals and be held accountable in the future. The BVU is determined to push for a Code of Conduct which is fair and has the legs to stand every ethical, professional and legal test.
- Why set the BVU up within an existing trade union, and why Unite?
Unlike an academic group or professional association, the setting up of a union needs enormous funding, infrastructure and specialist manpower (barristers!) even before the first member joins. Funding such a venture would have not been possible given the fact that members of the profession that would need the union support most are not necessarily the richest. It may not be inappropriate to cite that over a hundred years on the longest existing of the veterinary organisations in the country has not been able to provide such facilities independently! Therefore, it simply was not feasible to set up a standalone union for the profession. The alternatives were simple too: wait a further century and hope for the best, or grab the most effective alternative.
Based on the detailed consideration by the Vets4BVU Steering Group and taking into account the advice given by many very senior vets advising the Steering Group, a decision was made to create the union in affiliation with a bigger union.
Whereas other unions contacted were more interested in numbers and figures, Unite showed great interest and understanding about the problems faced by veterinary professionals and demonstrated a passion to help us address the issues, not to speak of the great respect shown for our profession. Right from the time of our first contact with Unite, we appreciated that there was potential for a hugely beneficial partnership.
- How will BVU benefit from its partnership with Unite?
Unite is Britain’s biggest trade union with over 1.5 million members, which has got a huge infrastructure, support system, offices and meeting facilities in all cities and most of the bigger towns across the country. The health sector of Unite, the home of the BVU already deals with a number of key sectors of the health related professions, like Medical Practitioners Union – professions overseen by regulatory bodies like that of the RCVS. Thus, the Health Sector is highly experienced in dealing with problems faced by internally regulated professions.
The partnership between BVU and Unite has opened for our profession the doors to Unite’s immense resources, which would have been impossible to generate by a standalone BVU. This partnership will not only benefit the members in dealing with their individual problems more effectively, but will also provide the BVU political clout and a powerful voice.
- How can BVU function with both employees and employers as members?
There is no denying to the fact that employed vets need BVU more than their employers do. But, whether we are employees or employers, most of us happen to do the same work – treating the sick and injured animal or looking after herd health and face the same challenges. In its core objectives, the Code of Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons does not discriminate between employee and employer vets. When the RCVS takes us to account, it does not discriminate whether one is an employee or an employer. The threat of being sued for a mistake in a surgical procedure or medical treatment remains the same regardless of whether one is an employee or an employer vet. When the government asked us to slaughter millions of cows at the time of FMD outbreak, the emotional trauma suffered did not discriminate between the employee and the employer vets. Thus, there is more in professional work that unites employee and employer vets rather than the little that might potentially divide us. Also, the employers also are affected by decisions by authorities which make their working life difficult. Therefore, the BVU believes that for most part of our professional work, employers need a representation and a voice as much as employees do.
Most important of all, the BVU will be more constructive, more beneficial and more successful as it provides a joint platform for the employees and employers to come together to resolve issues and help each other.
Those who question on the technicalities of how this may work need to remember that most disputes are ultimately resolved after the parties sit across the same table.
Uniting the profession is the agenda at the heart of the BVU.
- How will veterinary workers strike?
Strikes are not an objective of BVU. Yes, addressing everything that could potentially be the reason for calling a strike is our concern and BVU will leave no stone unturned to address such issues.
Considering the fact that the greater part of our practicing profession work in smaller units and keeping in view the nature of the work we do, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where industrial action would be beneficial or plausible.
The BVU will be able to keep an eye on all aspects of our working lives as veterinary professionals, highlight any issues and problems faced by the members and offer guidance and solutions to members. We believe the sense of accountability created by the presence of a union in the profession will serve as deterrent for any bad employers in our profession.
The members of the BVU working in various non-clinical sectors of the profession where animal welfare is not involved directly, such members will be right to consider strike action where other avenues may been exhausted without satisfactory results. However, such action will only follow if majority of the members of a particular group vote for such action.
