Press Release

Unite presents inflation busting pay claim for farm workers and issues warning of possible food crisis

16 June 2008

UK agriculture and horticulture is facing an unprecedented labour shortage which could lead to a full blown food crisis at home and abroad.

That is the stark warning issued by Unite the union on the eve of annual pay talks which get underway today (Monday) at the Agricultural Wages Board.

Unite will be asking for an increase of six per cent across all grades and other improvements to terms and conditions (see notes below). Unite represents skilled workers across the industry whose jobs include tractor drivers, looking after livestock, sowing and harvesting of crops.

Chris Kaufman Unite national secretary for food and agriculture said: 'With an ageing workforce - half of all farm workers are over 55 and a quarter over 65 - and the trend for migrant workers (who have filled some gaps) to return home, farmers will find it impossible to provide food security at home and help for those starving abroad.

"But farm workers have voted with their feet in recent years with fathers advising their children not to follow them into farming because they cannot get a living wage.

"Both sides of industry agree that the only salvation is to attract young workers into the industry - but for that the NFU must put its money where its mouth is. With rocketing land values and price increases farmers have never been better able to pay the bill for skill."

"This year's pay claim only begins the long march out of poverty pay, but if agriculture and horticulture are to have a future the NFU have to grasp the nettle now.

"What other industry has the national minimum wage as part of its pay structure. And what other industry would have skilled workers in charge of livestock and complex and dangerous machinery worth a king's ransom - and pay them less than £7 an hour?" he concluded.