Unite's rural and agricultural sector covers members that work
in areas as diverse as poultry, horticulture and forestry.
There are some 135,000 workers employed in agriculture in the UK
and Unite is expanding its membership to include people working
within larger farms and in the organic sector. Within the poultry
sector there are a substantial number of young people. Around
20,000 people work in horticulture and this sector of the industry
is growing quickly. It includes employees working in areas such as
mushroom growing and nurseries. Unite also has a strong presence in
forestry, representing workers in the Forestry Commission and
private forestry.
Key issues
Agriculture: Unite's rural and agriculture
sector has continued to lead the negotiations at the Agricultural
Wages Board (AWBs) for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland. The union continues with its policy of retention of the
AWBs unless they are converted to Statutory Joint Industrial
Councils where the independent membership of the boards would be
replaced by independent and professional conciliation and
arbitration.
As mechanisation and advancements in animal and crop husbandry
have taken place, full-time employment in agriculture has declined
steeply. There has been a huge casualisation of the industry with
many workers becoming self-employed, employed through agencies or
by machinery rings or contractors.
Health and safety: The union continues
to address health and safety in the industry through the
Agricultural Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC). It is promoting
the development of a roving safety representative role which should
be supported and funded nationally, with the representatives being
given the necessary powers to do that job effectively. Unite has
also been working closely with the HSE and NFU on the Make the
promise campaign to prevent people dying in needless
accidents on British farm. More
information about the campaign can be found on the HSE's website
here.
Horticulture: This is a growth area for
recruitment and organisation and the trade group is making
strenuous efforts to recruit staff employed not just within
mainstream horticulture but also in houseplant production and
packaging, garden centres and nurseries, and vegetable preparation
and packaging (for retailers). Unite also has strong presence in
the Forestry Commission with a good shop steward structure
throughout forestry, co-ordinated by a senior representative. Key
issues covered include Forestry Commission devolution,
harmonisation of terms and conditions with non-industrial staff,
health and safety, strategic campaigning to ensure that forestry
land is not sold and the commission's stock is diminished.
Rural issues: The trade group has been involved
in a number of campaigns covering rural transport, housing and
other services. It works effectively with a number of
organisations, such as the Countryside Agency, the Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Sustain, to achieve its
objectives of a sustainable rural economy supporting well-paid
local jobs.
Contacts
National officer: Cath Speight
Landworker
The Landworker is Unite's dedicated newspaper for rural,
agricultural and food workers. It appears every other month and
deals with all aspects of food production and distribution as well
as looking at key agricultural issues.
