Unite comes to Norwich to demand respect for rural workers
4 October 2010
Unite the union is bringing the campaign to save the
Agricultural Wages Board - the body charged with protecting the pay
of 154,000 rural workers - to Norwich, a key city in a region which
has traditionally provided employment in high numbers for rural
workers.
Since the government announced this summer, without
consultation, that it is to sweep away the AWB, Unite has been
mounting a robust challenge to the plans and its supporters,
including the National Farmers Union. During conference
season, Unite lobbied both the Liberal Democrats and Labour parties
for their help to stop the plans, which would be sure to cause
agricultural wages to fall to national minimum wage levels.
This Wednesday (October 6) Ian Waddell, Unite national officer
for rural communities and agriculture, is to meet with local
workers and rural campaigners to discuss their fears over the
coalition's plans to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board,
Agricultural Wages Committees and Agricultural Housing
Committees.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Ian Waddell said: "With a stroke
of the pen, this government has moved to sweep away protection of
pay and conditions for 154,000 workers overnight.
"But as far as Unite is concerned, this is not over. The
very least that rural communities and their workers are owed from
their government is that they are consulted on the important issues
of their lives. We will carry on pushing for this basic
respect and proper consultation."
Ian will be available from lunchtime on Wednesday 6 October
until 4.00pm and also during the morning of Thursday 7
October. Ian is happy to meet with the media during his time
in the region and can be reached on 0845 605 2196 or please contact
Belinda Thorn,
Unite regional administrator.
ENDS
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