The Guardian view on striking vets: standing up for all creatures great and small | Editorial

The corporate takeover of veterinary practices has been underregulated. Low pay and high charges need addressing

Now revived for a new generation, the classic television series All Creatures Great and Small offered an unashamedly romantic take on the life of a 1930s rural veterinary practice. Sadly, in a sector that has been corporatised at a dizzying pace, the modern reality is far less edifying.

In south Wales, vets, nurses and support staff working for surgeries owned by the VetPartners group have just extended an ongoing strike until the end of this month. This unprecedented industrial action has been prompted by anger at low wages that are reportedly driving some employees to food banks. There are also widespread concerns that profit-driven calculations by corporate giants are pushing customer charges too high.

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