Unite submits pay claim on behalf of 154,000 agricultural
workers
2 February 2011
Unite, the UK’s biggest union, has today (Wednesday, 2
February) submitted a pay claim on behalf of 154,000 agricultural
workers in England and Wales to the Department for Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra), calling for a substantial counter-inflationary pay
rise and a public holiday to commemorate Workers' Memorial Day on
28 April.
The union will present more detailed information behind the
claim in May and negotiations will begin in June to agree the rise
by the time the new Agricultural Wages Order comes into force from
October onwards.
Ian Waddell, Unite's National Officer for Rural and
Agricultural Workers, said: “Feedback from agricultural workers has
been loud and clear this year - they are struggling to survive in
the face of rising inflation, massive increases in fuel costs and
higher food prices. Our members in agriculture are paid well below
the average weekly wage and one-in-four families in rural areas are
below the poverty line.
“Farmers are struggling to recruit and retain skilled workers
and the poor pay and long hours culture of the industry must change
if we are to see farming as a professional occupation. We will be
presenting compelling evidence for a substantial pay rise to beat
the impact of inflation this year.”
Commenting on the claim for an extra public holiday linked to
Workers' Memorial Day, Mr Waddell said:
“The farming industry must do more to improve health and
safety as agriculture leads a league table of shame in having the
highest number of deaths per 100,000 workers in UK industry. This
shocking position shows no sign of improvement and masks an even
bigger problem in terms of serious injuries, which are commonplace
in farming.
“Our claim for an extra day's leave linked to Workers'
Memorial Day is designed to drive home the message that the carnage
going on in agriculture is not acceptable and must be tackled. It
will be an annual reminder that we must do more to ensure the
health and safety of agricultural workers and ensure they return
home safe and sound from their work every day.”
Unite leads the negotiations on behalf of the workers on the
Agricultural Wages Board, which is facing abolition under plans
announced last year by the coalition government. Despite this
threat, the union will press ahead with this pay claim.
Mr Waddell added: “It's business as usual for the Agricultural
Wages Board as far as we are concerned. The Public Bodies Bill is
progressing through the House of Lords and unless and until it
becomes law, the Agricultural Wages Board remains in place. We have
a statutory duty to protect pay and conditions, and we have an
important job to do this year when things are particularly tough
for agricultural workers, their families and their
communities.”
ENDS
For further information contact Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite
press office on 020 7420 8914 or 07980 224761.
