THE BEEF intervention scheme at meat plants throughout the State is expected to face serious disruption from Monday because of action by inspectors and carcass classification officers.
They are boycotting the intervention system because of a breakdown in talks with the Department of Agriculture yesterday over staffing levels, recruitment and training.
"Impact is seeking additional resources from the Department of Agriculture, particularly in the light of extra work generated by the BSE crisis," the union's branch secretary, Mr Gerard Kelly, said last night.
"The Department's failure to make a reasonable offer now threatens to throw the beef industry into chaos." The amount of intervention beef is expected to reach high levels this autumn because of the fall in cattle prices. In the past the union has agreed to the transfer of staff from other work to help deal with the peak periods.
Mr Kelly said the union gave cooperation with deployment during the last peak period in April on condition that staffing shortages were addressed before the autumn peak arrived.
Besides staff shortages the union claims that changes in the intervention system have placed greater responsibilities on members.