Staff from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) joined thousands of public sector workers on picket lines today (Wednesday, October 14) in what has been described as the biggest public sector strike in nearly 20 years.

Civil servants from DAFM stood at picket lines holding flags and placards as cars passing by honked in support.

Signs which read "We all deserve a better deal" and "Fair pay, decent work and stronger service" were used by strikers to highlight their anger towards current pay rates.

The strike has caused major disruption across the country, including for farmers, with DAFM experiencing the knock-on effects of the industrial action.

The strike impacted on many areas in the agricultural sector including: slaughter and meat processing plants; veterinary export certification; border control posts; and laboratory services.

Meat factories were told by DAFM to not slaughter livestock if to veterinary and technical duties did not meet legislative requirements.

This has a direct affect on meat exports which require daily department vet presence in boning halls and cutting plants.

Strikes will also affect Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) inspections at borders, meaning that consignments of food, plants and animals entering from outside the EU will not be released.

The public sector strikes have also affected farmer scheme payments.

These include the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability Scheme (CRISS) 

Strikes

Over 100,000 Fórsa members working across the public sector took part in the 24-hour work stoppage at 7,000 workplace locations.

Fórsa youth recruitment officer, Áine Bullock told Agriland that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform "has a really unfair approach to negotiating with trade unions this time".

She said: "They want to wear us down, have everything done before pay, and then we'll be so tired by the time pay comes up that we won't have the energy to fight for a better deal."

It is understood that a significant number of Fórsa and Veterinary Officers Association members work in DAFM.

Strikers at the picket line at DAFM HQ told Agriland said that they were looking for better pay and conditions.

One said: "Inflation is eroding everyone's pay and we're effectively taking a pay cut every year."

Referring to an exchange of letters with Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers, general secretary of Fórsa, Kevin Callinan said: "Refusal has made this industrial action inevitable."

Response

In response to the delay in BISS and CRISS payments, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association said: "Farmers should not be left to bear the cost of this industrial action.

The organisation said it strongly condemns the last-minute decision to delay BISS and CRISS payments until 27 October due to the public sector work to rule.

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) and Macra have also criticised the delay in payments to farmers.