A petition in support of striking staff at Cardiff’s Valley Vets has gained significant momentum, reaching 50,000 signatures.
The petition backs nearly 100 employees who have been on strike since July over low wages, with many earning just above the national minimum wage. The strike marks the first-ever industrial action at a private veterinary practice in the UK.
Staff at Valley Vets are calling for a pay increase to reflect the real living wage of £12 an hour, which they say their employer, VetPartners, has so far refused to meet.
According to Unite, 80% of the support staff at Valley Vets regularly borrow money to cover basic expenses, and 5% have resorted to using food banks. The union has highlighted the growing frustration among workers, who feel that the company’s business model prioritises profits over both staff welfare and animal care.
Private Equity’s Role in the Dispute
VetPartners, which operates more than 400 veterinary sites across the UK, was acquired by BC Partners for £700 million in 2018. The company is now valued at £3 billion. Its current business model, which involves aggressive expansion, has come under scrutiny. This approach has drawn criticism from both employees and union representatives, who argue that it has led to higher prices for pet owners while keeping wages low for workers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham commented on the issue, stating, “No wonder VetPartners is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority. It is a private equity vulture buying up as many vet practices as possible and extracting profits by raising prices on pet owners and paying staff poverty wages.”
Wider Industry Issues and Investigations
The strike comes as the veterinary sector faces wider scrutiny. VetPartners is one of several major veterinary groups being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for non-competitive practices. Other companies under investigation include Pets at Home, CVS Group, IVC, Linnaeus, and Medivet. Together, these six companies now control 60% of veterinary practices in the UK, compared to just 10% in 2013.
The investigation follows accusations that these companies have been overcharging customers while maintaining low wages for staff. At Valley Vets, prices have risen by approximately 25% over the past two years, with some employees reporting pressure from management to charge pet owners for even minor treatments. There has also been an increase in cases of ‘economic euthanasia’ across the sector, where owners choose to have their pets put down due to the high cost of treatment.
The strike action at Valley Vets has been ongoing for around six weeks, with no resolution in sight. The workers are set to keep striking, with the next 24-hour strike planned to begin at 08:00 on Friday, 13 September. Unite has vowed to continue supporting the striking workers until a satisfactory pay offer is made, with Sharon Graham reiterating that the union stands firmly behind the Valley Vets team.
