Competition for BVA

Re: Competition for BVA

Gerry Henry — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:17:02 GMT

Beware; look at teachers, highly unionised and increasingly despised; behave like a trade and eventually we will be regarded as a trade.

Re: Competition for BVA

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:39:38 GMT

[quote user="Malcolm Ness"]I can see why UNITE will be attracted to the additional income stream that will come from veterinary members[/quote]

Not to mention the kudos of representing a profession which is generally held in such high esteem.

(Not saying that is necessarily a bad thing, just a possible factor).

Re: Competition for BVA

Malcolm Ness — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:36:34 GMT

[quote user="Shams Mir"]interests of all its members [/quote]

Not entirely true. If you are a member and an employer, your membership is second class as the information makes it clear that in any dispute between an employer members and an employee members, the employer member will be side-lined and the union will work with the employee member against the employer.

Many smaller practices have now incorporated so an interesting paradox will arise when there is a dispute between an employee member and an employer that is a Ltd company (and therefore with a distinct legal identity) but which is owned and controlled by one or more vets who are also members but (technically at least) also employees of the Ltd company.

I can see why UNITE will be attracted to the additional income stream that will come from veterinary members but I am yet to be convinced that any significant veterinary good will come from this. I hope I am wrong.

Malcolm N

Re: Competition for BVA

Shams Mir — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:50:03 GMT

The British Veterinary Union in Unite (BVU) is a bona fide organisation developed through three years of campaigning, planning and organisation by a devoted team of vets and nurses supported by colleagues from across the country.

The members of our profession will have no difficulty appreciating BVU’s unambiguous objectives and its full commitment to looking after the welfare and interests of all its members - vets, nurses and others working in the profession.

The BVU’s determination coupled with Unite’s strength as the UK’s biggest union with over 1.5 million members and influential parliamentary group offers the members the prospect of an effective voice they deserve.

Re: Competition for BVA

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:39:45 GMT

Will you be joining Unite now, Mr. Wray?

Re: Competition for BVA

J G Wray — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:28:12 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]It seems you are not alone.[/quote]

".."The BVA provides the majority of services traditionally offered by a union and we are constantly working to improve our services to support the veterinary team...."In addition to these support services the BVA package incorporates much more. The BVA is a key stakeholder of the RCVS, Defra, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland administrations, the VMD and other bodies, representing members on issues as diverse as pet travel, bovine TB and medicines regulations. This is not a role Unite could play for our profession."

The BVA have so utterly bought into the value of their stakeholder status as meaningful and a USP that they are diverting resources to maintain this. Unite and the BVU have an open door really.

JGW

Re: Competition for BVA

Bob Russell — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:40:05 GMT

I feel the BVA has had a bit of a large animal bias so it will be interesting to see if this changes. It seems very set in its ways and many younger members of the profession consider it irrelevant (as do some older ones).

Perhaps it will become the CBI of the profession and the BVU the TUC! Interesting times.

Re: Competition for BVA

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:21:39 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]I see the news of the BVU's association with Unite primarily as competition for BVA. [/quote]

It seems you are not alone.

This just in from the BVA: http://www.vetsurgeon.org/blogs/veterinary_news/archive/2011/07/19/41423.aspx