Deal averts pig plant job losses

It was feared pig production could be badly hit

A possible threat to pig production in Scotland from a strike by meat hygiene inspectors has been averted.

Halls of Broxburn, operators of Scotland's only pig meat processing factory, had given notice to 150 of the plant's 1,000 workers.

But unions have agreed that there will be inspectors to certificate meat at the plant next week, putting a freeze on the job losses.

Elsewhere, Unison still plans a five-day meat hygiene workers' strike.

It had been feared that the Broxburn plant, which is part of Grampian Country Foods, would shut risking 1,000 jobs.

Animal welfare

Plant bosses had said they would not be able to accept pigs at Broxburn for processing next week.

Managing Director Cameron Davidson had also warned that the strike could have threatened the survival of Halls.

He said: "Our employees understand their colleagues genuine concerns over pensions but are mystified as to how nine people on strike can jeopardise 1,000 jobs at Hall's and the future of the pig industry across Scotland."

Chairman of Grampian Pig Producers, Sandy Howie, said as well as endangering the pig industry in Scotland, the strike could have created animal welfare problems.

He said: "We need pigs to be leaving every week to make space for those coming in behind and we simply do not have enough spare accommodation".

The five-day walkout across the rest of the industry from 3 April is part of ongoing industrial action over changes to pensions.