THE British government was severely criticised by the ICTU president, Mr John Freeman, over its handling of the beef crisis. He described its response to the BSE problem as showing little regard for the safety of workers in the industry or the public at large.
He contrasted it with the policies followed in other EU states, such as in France and the Republic. He called on the British government to hold a public inquiry into the causes of BSE and the culling of herds.
Mr Freeman is Irish regional secretary of the ATGWU, which represents most meat industry workers in Northern Ireland and a number in the Republic.