INSPECTORS and vets belonging to Unison are to be balloted over strike action.

More than 500 members working for the Food Standards Agency will vote on whether to strike over a pay offer of 0.75 per cent.

The union wants an aboveinflation pay increase to begin to make up some of the 15 per cent it says has been lost from the pay packets of FSA staff under the coalition Government.

Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, said: β€œIt is an insult that the FSA has chosen to impose below inflation pay awards two years in a row, with no real consultation, which represents a massive cut to peoples pay and pensions.”