Our food, our future Climate change and food production - time to take back control - Unite the union
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Summer 2021 The voice of the rural worker
our food,
our future
Climate change and food production
– time to take back control
Coming to a living room near you The Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival 2021 will be hitting your screens again this July. With Covid restrictions still uncertain yet another packed agenda with debates and music will be available to all online. From Friday 16th – Sunday 18th July 2021, fans of the Festival will be able to watch free on our Facebook group, Youtube channel, or on the website www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/festival Don’t miss Saturday’s debate on climate change and food and the wreath laying on Sunday. For more details visit www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/festival
Contents
Comment News & regulars
3 National officer 4 Top stories
Bev Clarkson writes Latest Landworker stories
4 General secretary 34 Stay safe
Len McCluskey’s view Latest on dangers at work
Bev Clarkson
36 International Landworker Unite national officer
Features Stop funding Colombia brutality Food, drink and, agricultural sector
20 ‘Raise the call
watchword liberty’ 37 Gardenwise
The Tolpuddle Martyrs and how
the issues they fought are still
The freedom of summer A time for change
38 On the shelf As the race for the new Unite general secretary
being faced Helping the young to under- gets underway I’m reminded that this is a time
of great change for all Unite members. It’s also
23 Festival fun stand refugees a time for Unite members to show their grit
This year’s Tolpuddle Festival and stand together to fight climate change –
online info Campaigns because climate change affects our ability to
24 A rose is a rose? produce food, risks our food and farming
12 ‘I’m just very stubborn’ industries, our jobs – even the very future of
Is gene editing GM by another How Unite’s David Imre re- humanity.
name? cruited 600 new members and
26 Cornwall ‘pushed to the secured pay rises It’s time we make a stand and say to the
margins’ 14 Digging for Britain
government listen to those who work in food
Extreme poverty versus super and farming. Stop killing the earth with
Two food and climate change dangerous chemicals and recognise the
luxury experts on how we can stop contribution our members make to the nation,
28 ‘Working with the grain of the decline keep them safe and pay them what they are
nature’ 17 ‘Bringing ponds back to life rightfully due.
Mental health and working in How ponds can heal the
nature Food and agriculture workers are key workers
environment – but are sadly all too often overlooked,
30 ‘I couldn’t see any way out’ 18 Pond-ering the wild side especially by this shambles of a government.
How connecting to crows helped Why one family have built their During the pandemic workers on food
conquer depression own pond
production lines, farm workers and more
besides were absolutely indispensable. And
32 Mike Pentelow remembered just like other key workers our sector members
Tributes to the legendary risked their lives daily to keep us all fed and
ex-Landworker editor healthy. But where’s the recognition? The safe
workplaces? The fair wages?
It angers me greatly to hear yet again that
agriculture is the most dangerous industry in
the UK. All the government has to do is to
invest in our members’ safety, through
inspections, regular training and strong
protective laws that can be rigorously enforced
and bring to justice those that are careless
with our members’ lives.
I am also angry that the future of the Northern
Ireland agricultural wages board (AWB) is now
10 27 under threat. Unite will continue to fight to
keep Northern Ireland’s board and for all
nations to have access to a wages panel.
This edition of Landworker should arrive with
you just before the annual Tolpuddle Festival –
which is online again this year. But it is
available for you to stream – and if you are
able to you might want to watch the debate on
All change for food production at 11.15 am,
Saturday July 17 on your laptop or phone.
Unite speakers will be discussing climate
change and food production and it looks to be
a lively event.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs are our inspiration to
24 30 stand together for what is right – and we will
continue their fight for as long as injustice for
workers exists.
3
UNITELANDWORKER Comment
The flame that
must never go out
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey writes Len McCluskey
to Landworker readers for the very last time General Secretary
Half a century ago, a young presidential shortages are not the fault of workers abuse and misrule, giving their lives so
hopeful, Robert Kennedy, travelled to but of an industry long-abused by that we may have freedoms.
California to meet Cesar Chavez. He saw supermarkets that squeeze maximum
the squalor and mistreatment of the cash for their boardrooms from every inch This magazine exists to ensure that flame
campesinos in the richest nation on the of the supply chain. never goes out, that from generation to
earth, encountering a leader determined for generation we uphold the values of this
his members. This cannot go on. Outside of the EU we sector, the foundation of our great trade
need to invest in our domestic industry to union.
Food, discovered Kennedy, is political. keep food on the shelves at home and to
build those new markets overseas. It has been the honour of my life to lead
So it remains today. From climate change to this union. Without a shadow of a doubt,
food security, the sector and our members And of course, the biggest crisis of our this union is the greatest engine for
have never been more at the heart of the age is upon us, the climate crisis. No part change and fairness for working people
national conversation. of these isles can escape the changes this country possesses.
that Mother Nature will enforce on us but
Decisions taken now will shape our what we can do is work to protect our It is in your hands now, my campesino
landscapes and workplaces tomorrow. workers and our industries. friends – and I know that you will never
When Liz Truss strikes a deal with Australia, fail our members.
she may get the headlines but her This is my last column for Landworker, so
agreement is as uneven as a drunk on a it is written with a heavy heart. This sector
Saturday night; what benefits Australia’s is our thread back to our movement’s
mega-farms will destroy our home grown beginnings. Farm labourers have been
industries. among history’s bravest fighters against
And where we need a united front to give
our food and agriculture sector the hope of
a decent future, we’re once again battling
another attack on workers, this time in
Northern Ireland where the wages board is
fighting for its life.
I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve
had to safeguard this last vestige of
collective bargaining in the sector, the only
mechanism to put a floor under wages and
sometimes housing in an industry riddled
with the twin blights of poverty pay and
punishing housing costs.
Grit and unity
Our union’s grit and unity will again see
off this assault, but the government and
the worst part of the industry will be back,
of that I am sure.
As President Biden pointed out recently
to bosses, ‘if you want workers, pay Food is political – Robert
them more’. But what is as plain as the Kennedy and Cesar
nose on your face to you and me is met Chavez symbolically
by horror by employers. The crops that breaking bread 1968
rot in the fields as a result of labour
uniteLANDWORKER, since 1919. Published by Unite, 128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8TN. Phone 0207 611 2500. Editor – Amanda Campbell
Magazine enquiries and letters to the editor, by post, phone, or email amanda.campbell@unitetheunion.org
Distribution enquiries Taylor Humphris 020 7611 2557. Available in alternative formats – call Unite for details
NEWS Top Stories
Make your voice heard
Unite GS elections are coming your way soon
Unite’s current general secretary Len McCluskey is Timetable
standing down – and the race to be his successor has Here are the dates you’ll need to know.
already started. Who will be the next leader of Unite?
• Ballot papers dispatched – these are being dispatched
Make sure your voice is heard – and take part in the from July 5
forthcoming election for the next Unite general secretary. • Ballot papers returned to independent scrutineer* – by
noon, August 23
If you are a Unite member, including a Retired Member Plus
or Unite Community member and you joined before April • Declaration of results – August 26
14, 2021, then you are eligible to vote in this election.
And the new general secretary will take up the post at the
conclusion of the election process.
Make sure your personal details are up to date on
our membership system by logging in to your Important
My Unite account on our website If you do not receive your ballot paper in good time please
https://myunite.unitetheunion.org/login contact the independent scrutineer*
Candidates
So get ready to make your voice heard and cast your
vote for your candidate of choice. There are three FIND OUT MORE
candidates running for general secretary. In alphabetical To find out more about the elections see the Unite website
order these are: www.unitetheunion.org/2021gselection
Gerard Coyne, former West Midlands regional secretary;
Sharon Graham, executive officer, organising and
leverage; Independent scrutineer
*In accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations
Steve Turner, Assistant General Secretary for (Consolidation) Act 1992, Civica Election Services has been
manufacturing, Community, young and retired members. appointed to act as Independent Scrutineer for this ballot.
They can be contacted at: The Independent Scrutineer,
Full addresses by the candidates are available in the Civica Election Services, Election Centre, 33 Clarendon
ballot pack. Road, London N8 0NW.
5
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021
Peter Everard Smith NEWS Top Stories n By Hajera Blagg
Right to Food campaign gains speed
Unite has thrown its full support Food Strategy, an independent review In March, the Right to Food campaign
behind the Right to Food campaign – commissioned by government into made its submission to the National
an initiative set up last year by Fans the UK’s food system which is due to Food Strategy including five key
Supporting Foodbanks and Labour report next month. ‘asks’ which, if adopted by
MP for Liverpool West Derby, Ian government, will “provide an
Byrne – which aims to make access Liverpool has since been followed by achievable, tangible and legally
to food a legal right for everyone in several other cities which have binding route out of food poverty for
the UK, writes Hajera Blagg. become Right to Food cities, millions of people in the UK”, Byrne
including Manchester, Greater noted.
The campaign to end food poverty Manchester Combined Authority,
once and for all has gained significant Liverpool Combined Authority, The five ‘asks’ include universal free
momentum since it was launched in Rotherham, Totnes, Brighton and school meals; community kitchens;
November 2020 and has drawn Hove, Haringey, St Helens, reasonable portions in benefits and
support from all corners including Newcastle, Portsmouth and Durham. wages; ensured food security and
councils, Unite and other trade independent enforcement.
unions, charities, footballer Marcus The latest figures from the Food
Rashford, and a growing number of Foundation estimates that an Enshrining a right to food in law would
cross-party MPs. astonishing one in five adults in mean the government would hold
England, Wales and Northern Ireland legal obligations on food poverty and
A petition to Parliament started by face food insecurity annually, while could be held accountable for any
Fans Supporting Foodbanks national the Child Action Poverty Group violations.
chair Dave Kelly has garnered more estimates that one in three children
than 50,000 signatures while Byrne’s were living in poverty before the
Early Day Motion tabled in Parliament pandemic even started. FIND OUT MORE
in December was signed by 59 cross- You can find out more on the Unite
party MPs. Commenting, Labour MP Ian Byrne website www.unitetheunion.org
said, “It’s really worrying and /campaigns/right-to-food-
In January, Liverpool became the first extremely saddening that we’re in this campaign/
Right to Food city after the city position. So the only way to tackle
council unanimously voted to in this is through a change in legislation. Twitter users can use the hashtag
favour of calling on the government to That’s what we’re calling for. We can’t #RightToFood and tagging
include the right to food in its National carry on like this.” @IanByrneMP and @SFoodbanks.
6
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021
n By Mark Metcalf
GROSS EXPLOITATION
The Scottish govt’s seasonal workers pilot scheme
exposes a depressing picture
A report into the operations of the workers, increasing to 10,000 in 2020 made worse by deportation threats
Scottish government’s Seasonal and 30,000 this year – when it was by some employers and the
Workers Pilot (SWP) scheme that opened to workers from EU countries. impossibility of finding alternative
brings temporary agricultural workers Ukrainians have by far made up the employment.
from outside the EU, exposes a largest group of SWP workers.
depressing picture of gross The report authors state it ‘identifies
exploitation. Until May 2021, recruitment for the a serious risk that forced labour
SWP jobs was undertaken by could take place on the SWP if
The Focus on Labour Exploitation Concordia and Pro-Force Ltd. Migrant action is not taken.’
(FLEX) and Fife Migrants Forum (FMF) workers who are offered posts must
report into the horticultural sector is fund their own travel costs plus a They want the UK and Scottish
the first ever independent evidence of £244 visa fee. Costs average out at Governments to consider a lengthy
worker experiences on seasonal around £900 per worker. Many are series of recommendations. These
agricultural workers schemes. forced to borrow this money from include removing the visa fee and
black market sources. ensuring workers get a guaranteed
Between 1943 and 2014 the Home minimum weekly income of £332.50
Office ran the Seasonal Agricultural Many workers complained of for 35 hours a week.
Workers Scheme. Throughout the 71- discrepancies between the
year period no independent reports information they received before Increasing resources to the
based on interviews with participating travelling and the nature of the work Gangmasters and Labour Authority,
workers were undertaken, a sure sign they were actually required to which has just one staff member in
of how little successive governments undertaken on arrival. Documents are Scotland, is required and there should
cared about some of the most rarely translated into migrants’ be new regulations relating to piece
vulnerable workers in the country. languages. rate calculations. An independent
helpline with translation into workers’
In the lead up to the UK’s exit from Unsafe caravan accommodation languages would allow them to raise
the EU there were concerns that the exempt from local authority potential labour abuse incidents.
agricultural sector was suffering a licensing, must be paid for even if
shortfall in workers, resulting in crops there is no work, together with the The Scottish government is also
being left unharvested. To solve these use of zero hours contracts asked to offer financial support to
problems the SWP was introduced. It combined with payment by piece migrant community organisations
began with an annual quota of 2,500 rates, all paints a depressing picture and trade unions.
FIND OUT MORE
Read the report at
https://labourexploitation.org
Mark Harvey
NEWS Top Stories
‘Hands off our agri
workers’ pay’
The Northern Ireland agricultural wages board is under threat
With agricultural workers, especially Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales) £299.60 and in Wales the figure is
those under 22, across England on which Unite sits, to protect 13,000 £313.60. The sum in England is
continuing to be worse off than their low paid agricultural workers. £262.40, considerably less than
UK counterparts it is vital that Unite elsewhere. The differences for a young
defeats proposals by the Northern On 1 April 2021, the minimum hourly person in England aged 18 or under is
Ireland executive to abolish their own rate for all Scottish agricultural even greater. It is hardly surprising that
Agricultural Wages Board. (AWB) workers, irrespective of age and duties young workers in England are not
The England and Wales AWB was became £8.91, which is the national considering entering the agricultural
scrapped by the Con-Dem coalition minimum wage (NMW) rate across the sector.
government in 2013. Agricultural UK for 23-year-olds. In Wales those
workers in England faced being paid aged 16 to 20 are paid £7.84 hourly AWBs also cover pay for workers or all
less than those in Scotland and and those aged 21-22 get £8.36. In ages in lieu of wages, sick pay, holiday
Northern Ireland, which have had their Northern Ireland, a minimum hourly pay, piece rates, overtime rates at 1.5
own AWBs, on which Unite represents rate of £6.95 is paid for the first 40 times the standard rate and it limits
agricultural workers, since 1949 and weeks of employment which rises to a deductions for accommodation to a
1977 respectively. minimum of £7.49 an hour for workers flat rate and which in Northern Ireland
aged under 23. is £45 weekly.
The move left thousands of workers in
Wales and England without union In comparison to these AWB The drop in living standards for
representation over wages and negotiated rates, young agricultural agricultural workers in England is
conditions and with no way of knowing workers in England are only covered exactly what Unite predicted eight
when they might next receive a pay by the NMW hourly rates of £4.62 for years ago.
increase. under 18s, £6.56 for 18- to 20-year-
olds and £8.36 for those aged 21 A Unite survey in 2014 found that just
In Wales there was a devolved and 22. 56 per cent of those previously
assembly Labour government which covered by the AWB had had a pay
fought a successful legal battle that A 20-year-old in Scotland is thus rise. This was despite a third asking for
allowed it to establish a dedicated guaranteed £356.40 for a 40-hour one. Those that did get a pay rise had
Wales AWB, (officially known as the working week, in Northern Ireland it is received less than the whole economy
8
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021
n By Mark Metcalf
stormont
our farm
f
wo
Hands of
rkers
Defend & expand
the AWB
average. Eighty two per cent had any In Northern Ireland the AWB is the final “The AWB is of vital importance in
pay rise imposed by their employer, collective bargaining mechanism with a countering exploitation, which all too
destroying the government and responsibility for private sector often includes the practice of
employers earlier claims that workers. As the evidence from England trafficking and modern-day slavery –
abolishing the AWB would free since 2013 demonstrates its abolition especially as many are migrant
employees to conduct individual will “open the door to a post-Brexit workers with little other protection.”
negotiations with their employer. race-to-the-bottom on workers’ and
farmers’ pay and conditions,” states Abolishing the AWB in Northern Ireland
The survey also revealed that no sick Unite regional officer Sean McKeever. will also offer further encouragement
pay was being paid by some to the National Farmers’ Union in
employers, who had also added an In January, the Northern Ireland (NI) Scotland who are known to favour
extra hour to the working week before department of agriculture, environment abolishing the board there. Unite is
overtime was paid. The history of the and rural affairs minister Edward Poots strongly opposing the proposals to
AWB can be traced back to the of the Democratic Unionist Party scrap the NI AWB and is running a
radical, reforming Liberal government announced his intention to end the NI campaign – Stormont, hands off our
in the years leading up to WW1. In his AWB that covers over 11,000 agricultural workers. The union has
role as Deputy Prime Minister from agricultural sector employees. Poots is written to the leaders of all political
2010 to 2015, the Liberal Democrat a member of the Ulster Farmers’ Union parties to oppose abolition.
leader Nick Clegg propped up the (UFU) which champions the interests of
austerity programme of David big ranchers and the agri-food bosses.
Cameron and George Osborne and FIND OUT MORE
helped to scrap a board that even At the NI AWB meeting in March, Sean For more on the campaign see
Margaret Thatcher retained. McKeever, unsuccessfully pressed www.unitetheunion.org/campaigns
UFU representatives to retain the AWB. If you live in Northern Ireland please
Clegg, who is now Vice President for “There is a particular need for a send a message to your MLA
Global Affairs and Communications at collective bargaining body covering demanding their party stands up for
Facebook, was knighted for his agricultural field workers…the sector agricultural field and farm workers and
services in the 2017 New Year receives a huge amount of public use their ministerial veto, which is what
Honours list – despite his attack on funds...it is one which is inherently former agricultural minister Michelle
the wages and conditions of difficult to organise given the scattered Gildernew did in 2007, when it was first
agricultural workers throughout distribution of workers and the proposed to scrap the AWB.
England. prevalence of part-time working.
9
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021
NEWS Top Stories
Solve farm worker shortage with better pay
Difficulties finding seasonal agricultural She said “That’s the big problem – government to implement sector-wide
workers could be solved by improving there’s massive issues because reforms and assistance, including
notoriously bad pay and conditions in workers are extremely low paid, they reinstating the Agricultural Wages
the sector, Unite has said in response don’t have any job security and are Board. Not being part of the EU’s
to complaints by UK fruit farmers, often treated badly. Common Agricultural Policy should
writes Ryan Fletcher. also mean government making the
“To prevent chronic labour shortages allocation of farming subsidies
Managing director of Kent-based requires not only individual employers conditional on the creation of decent,
Winterwood Farms Ltd, which to up their game, but for the secure jobs.”
produces fruit crops in the UK, Europe
and South Africa, Stephen Taylor told
the PA his UK operations were ‘at the
brink’ because of a lack of workers.
Chairman of British Summer Fruits,
Nick Marston, said there are less and
less EU seasonal workers and that
farmers are facing the “impossibility of
recruiting a significant proportion of
our large workforce from UK
residents”.
But Unite national officer Bev
Clarkson said that if pay, terms and
conditions were right in agriculture
then there would be UK workers
available as well as migrant workers.
Extra! Read Unite’s latest news
uniteEXTRA is a completely new Unite’s role in the big issues of our or go straight to our front page here
e-magazine for anyone interested in time and, of course, stories from unitetheunion.org/UX
all things Unite – and the latest your communities.
edition is out now and ready for you If as a member you’d like to receive
to view on the Unite website, writes This new digital magazine is also the magazine regularly then why not
Amanda Campbell. more frequent than anything we’ve subscribe to uniteEXTRA – and
produced in recent years. Every five receive your personal copy in
In a complete trade union first you’ll weeks or so uniteEXTRA will advance of our web publication?
be able to access the latest news explore the latest in Unite news,
on your laptop, tablet or mobile features, special investigations, You can subscribe through the
device. It’s vibrant, dynamic format campaigns, comment, reviews, My Unite part of the Unite
is very new to us but we hope you’ll podcasts, films and so much more website or by visiting
agree that it brings our wonderful –encapsulating the spirit of the UK’s myunite.unitetheunion.org/login
union to full technicolour life. and Ireland’s top union.
We hope you enjoy reading
All your magazine favourites are in To read uniteEXTRA you can uniteEXTRA – and sign up
here – our many victories for access the latest copy through the to receive our next issue out
workplace justice, your campaigns, Unite website – unitetheunion.org in August.
10
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021n By Ryan Fletcher
‘Sending thousands of
farmers to the wall’
Unite fears Johnson deal could mean food job losses
Although the government promised The Australian government’s standards of animal welfare and
to ‘get Brexit done to support British announcement on the deal environmental protection, and threaten
farmers’, Boris Johnson recently contradicted the UK, however, by the conservation of our countryside.
signed a UK/Australia trade deal that stating that tariffs would end in as a
has been widely criticised for risking little as five years for dairy, eight “Instead of using the opportunity of
livelihoods and standards. years for sugar and 10 years for Britain’s first post-Brexit trade deal to
lamb and beef. create jobs in every sector, drive our
At a joint press conference with economic recovery, and raise
Australia’s prime minister Scot Labour said that even with the tariffs standards around the world, the
Morrison in June, Johnson told in place, the amount of produce government has done the opposite
reporters that the deal will ‘benefit allowed into the country before the with this agreement on agriculture.”
British farmers’. tariffs come into force are so high as
to make them meaningless. Unite national officer for food, drink
It was soon revealed, however, that and agriculture, Bev Clarkson,
the deal will allow massive amounts For instance, the quota for beef warned that the deal set the
of cheaply produced beef and lamb would begin at 35,000 tonnes and precedent for agreements with
from Australia, which has lower increase each year during the 10- America, Brazil, Canada and Brazil,
farming standards than the UK, to be year tariff period. In comparison, just further opening the door on cheap
imported into Britain before 1,766 tonnes of Australian beef and food and lower standards.
protective tariffs are enacted. veal were imported in 2019. Sheep
meat tariffs will begin at 25,000 Explaining the dangers this poses to
The government attempted to mollify tonnes per year and sugar tariffs will Unite food processing members,
UK sheep and cattle farmers, who start at 80,000 tonnes. Clarkson said, “Cheap imports could
face being priced out of the market, drive down prices in the super-
by saying they will be protected by Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s shadow markets, which, in turn, could lead to
“a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 secretary of state for international food processing plants in the UK
years using tariff rate quotas and trade, said, “With this deal… the shedding jobs or trying to compete
other safeguards”. government will send thousands of by lowering pay and driving down
farmers to the wall, undermine our working conditions.”
Lower standards – Johnson deal
could open door on cheap food
11
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021CAMPAIGN Organising
‘I’m just very
stubborn’
“
You come from a foreign
country, you can’t speak
the language, you’re often
badly treated at work and
in the wider community.
These people have
”
nowhere to go and no one
to turn to. We need to help
them
David Imre, Unite convenor,
2Sisters, Sandycroftn By Hajera Blagg
Convenor David Imre and his Unite team have recruited 600 new
members in 18 months – and have secured massive pay rises for staff
Food processing is one of the most communities by identifying leaders in Last year, management dug its heels in
difficult jobs out there. The hours are those communities.” when the workforce demanded better
long, the pay is meagre and the work Covid health and safety measures. But
itself is not for the feint hearted. It And one such leader, Unite 2Sisters thanks to the increased membership
comes as no surprise then that staff Sandycroft site convenor David Imre and the insistence of David and his
turnover is exceptionally high in meat (pictured), “shone like a star from the team of reps, bosses relented.
and poultry factories. outset”, Brian said.
And now, the members have secured
“Even though we’ve had a recognition “The truth is I’m just very stubborn,” an unprecedented pay deal, where the
agreement for many years, we’ve David told Landworker, laughing. lowest paid workers – accounting for
struggled with the membership “When members come to me with 40 per cent of the workforce – will see
because it’s such a transient problems I go up to the HR office and I their pay increase by a whopping 6.4
workforce,” said Unite regional officer don’t leave until the problem is fixed. per cent. This takes their pay above
Brian Troake, of the 2Sisters I’m like glue – I stick around and if you the real Living Wage for the first time in
Sandycroft poultry processing factory don’t fix my problem I won’t leave.” the site’s history.
in Deeside, Wales.
Whether out of pure stubbornness or Those working in ‘manual debone’,
“People will start work at 8 am as a an innate leadership ability – or a mix about a fifth of the workforce, will see
new employee and they’ll quit by 8.30. of both – David’s success is their pay skyrocket by over 10 per
The work is enormously physically undeniable. Originally from Romania, cent, while those in the ‘kill and hang’
demanding and the wages and David moved to the UK in 2016 and area will see a pay increase of 7.7 per
treatment of the workers is so poor. It’s joined Unite less than two years ago. cent. The deal also secures an
not the sort of place people hand their additional day’s holiday for everyone.
notices in – they just don’t come Since then, he’s gone from member to
back.” rep to convenor, and he’s “Because we’re so strong now with
singlehandedly recruited hundreds of hundreds more members, it’s not been
Compounding the problem for union members. In what David called his so much of a pay claim this year – it’s
organsing in the sector is not just one ‘proudest moment’, he recruited 89 more of a pay demand,” Brian
language barrier but dozens. members in a single day. explained. “It’s been really empowering
and inspiring for people, myself
“At the 2Sisters Sandycroft site, there So what’s the secret to his success? included. It’s not often you go into pay
are 32 different nationalities with “You need to listen to people,” David talks with such a strong negotiating
almost as many different languages explained. “And sometimes that may position.”
spoken,” Brian told Landworker. involve listening to them about their
personal lives outside of the Brian says he is eager to replicate this
Organising predominantly migrant workplace. That’s how you build trust. stunning success at other food
workplaces has been one of the People need to know that you really processing sites across the UK – and
biggest challenges UK trade unions care. People come to you when they David is hopeful it will happen, as long
have faced in modern times. But in the know that you will do whatever it takes as migrant workers’ voices are truly
last year, Unite members at the to help them.” heard.
2Sisters Sandycroft factory have
shown that nothing is impossible. David also attributes his success to the “Finding migrant reps should be at the
fact that he speaks an astounding five forefront of our efforts,” he said,
Thanks to the hard work of Unite reps, languages – Romanian, Hungarian, adding that migrant reps are also
many of them migrant workers Spanish, Portuguese and English. And essential because they truly
themselves, the 2Sisters Sandycroft at a site where 80 per cent of the understand the unique migrant worker
site – the largest factory owned by one workforce are migrant workers, such experience. Think about it – you come
of the biggest poultry companies in the language skills are indispensable. from a foreign country, you can’t speak
country – has seen Unite membership the language, you’re often badly
skyrocket in the last year and a half. “Especially when people are angry, treated at work and in the wider
And now, with their newfound strength, scared or emotional, it’s hard for them community. These people have
they’ve just secured an unprecedented to communicate in a second nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
pay deal unheard of the sector. language,” David noted. “We need to We need to help them.”
be able to talk to members in their
Increasing Unite membership by more native language.” Above all, David urged all food
than 600 workers in a mere 18 months production workers to join a union.
was no accident, Brian explained. With numbers comes power – and “The more of us that we are, the more
“In 2019, we felt we needed to members at 2Sisters Sandycroft have power we have to make big changes
redouble our efforts on the site,” he only just begun to realise how much in our workplaces,” David said. “If
said. “We did a mapping exercise and power they can wield when they stand there’s a problem, we can fix it. We’ve
went about targeting different together. proved that it works.”
Just as Landworker went to press, the
13 workforce overwhelmingly voted in favour of
the deal on a massive 86 per cent turnout.
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021CAMPAIGN Climate change and food production
DIGGING “
What we do in the next
five years – and then
carry through into actions
throughout the world...
”
will determine the future
of humanity for the next
millennia
Sir David King
FOR
Leading scientific adviser
on climate change
“
We need to put much
more effort into regen-
erating our soils. This is
BRITAIN
because improving soil
”
health by building life in
soils will pull down carbon
Dr Charlie Clutterbuck,
Unite food campaigner
14
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021n By Hajera Blagg
In the run up to November’s COP26 Summit, Landworker speaks
to two experts on climate change and food production
Fossil fuels may grab the headlines “Now, we import nearly half of our they start pulling subsidies that can
in most discussions of climate food,” Clutterbuck noted. “This is support farmers to make the
change, but it is in fact our food having a disproportionate effect on the necessary changes and instead
systems that are among the biggest environment. And with impending they’re bringing in consultants who
emitters of global greenhouse gas post-Brexit trade deals with Australia charge £500 to £600 a day,”
(GHG) emissions. and other countries, the importing of Clutterbuck explained.
food is only going to become a bigger
There is a growing consensus that and bigger problem.” And while the government drags its
we must fundamentally overhaul the feet, the UK is losing 2m tons of
way we produce and consume food ‘Socialist soils zoologist’ soil to erosion each year, driven
if we are to successfully tackle the Describing himself as a ‘socialist soils mainly by intensive farming
climate emergency – one of the zoologist’, Clutterbuck believes that a practices in the eastern part of the
biggest challenges of our time. key weapon in our collective arsenal in country.
the fight against climate change can
Unite campaigner Dr Charlie be found right beneath our feet. “In the east, it’s predominantly
Clutterbuck, a former UN food crops like vegetables and grain,”
security expert, has spent decades “We need to put much more effort into Clutterbuck noted. “And it’s these
researching sustainable agriculture. regenerating our soils. This is because monocultures where all the big
He believes an area where the UK improving soil health by building life in damage in British farming is
can do its part to reduce its soils will pull down carbon,” he occurring.
emissions is for Britain to grow much explained. “It’s the only separate
more of its own food. society where we can actual absorb Hedgerows
carbon.” “They’ve knocked down all the
“Our biggest food footprint is mainly hedgerows, the fields are 40 or 50
abroad – it’s not in this country,” Indeed, the International Panel on acres with no trees to be seen and
Clutterbuck told Landworker. Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that they use massive machines.
“Seventy per cent of the land 89 per cent of all agricultural
needed to produce our food is emissions can be reduced simply by These machines compact the soil
abroad; 64 per cent of our improving soil carbon levels. and this further fuels erosion. Then
greenhouse gas emissions from they add more and more fertilisers
producing our food is abroad. Key to improving soil health by to make up for the drop in
People don’t talk about this much bringing life back into soils – such as productivity – and nitrous fertilisers
but it is really significant.” earthworms and other organisms – is are the second biggest contributors
completely overhauling our modern to climate change.”
He explained that through our legacy farming practices. These include using
of empire, the UK has long imported cover crops and no-till farming, Although Clutterbuck says he
and relied on imported food, but it eliminating the use of synthetic worries about the government not
wasn’t until after the Second World fertilisers and pesticides, testing and taking the lead it should be on
War, when the then Labour monitoring organic matter in soils, and climate change and food
government introduced the planting more trees, among many production, he still holds out hope.
Agricultural Act 1947, that things other practices. Collectively, these
began to change. practices are known as ‘regenerative “What gives me the greatest hope
farming’ – a movement which is now are the many local initiatives – both
“This Act was as significant as growing across the world. in the UK and across the world –
setting up the NHS but we never that are dedicated to overhauling
hear about it,” he said. “We were Regenerating soils will, however, our farming practices,” he said.
massively in debt after the war but require sustained government
nonetheless plumbed a lot of money intervention and investment – and “They’re all quite similar in that their
into British agriculture, so that by the while the present and former ethos is about building from the
1970s we were producing 75 per environment secretaries George ground up, about regenerating soil,
cent of our own food.” Eustice and Michael Gove have about seasonal food and circular
repeatedly highlighted the importance economies.
Britain’s newfound embrace of of improving soil health, Clutterbuck
homegrown food did not last long, said he despairs that the government “At the moment they’re not very
however. The Thatcher government is not putting its money where its political but if all of these growing
brought an end to many of the mouth is. local initiatives were to merge into a
government interventions and strong global movement – this
investments that had made British “They talk about soil health and could precipitate a massive shift in
food such a success story. harmony on the one hand but then our fight against climate change.”
Peter Everard Smith
15
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021CAMPAIGN Climate change and food production n By Hajera Blagg
Landworker also spoke to Sir He went on to set up the Centre for composting is a clear way of doing
David King – better known for his Climate Repair at Cambridge and in this – it means we’re putting more
role during the pandemic as leader June launched the international carbon in the soil which has
of Independent SAGE – who has Climate Crisis Advisory Group. significant potential in capturing
also previously served as the carbon,” he added.
government’s chief scientific adviser Like Clutterbuck, King says that it is
from 2000 to 2007 and special global agricultural practices that are King also believes that consumers
representative for climate change becoming a much greater changing their eating habits will play
to the foreign secretary from 2013 contributor to the climate crisis. an important role in the fight against
to 2017. climate change.
“The fastest growth in emissions is
from global farming and in particular “We need to examine how quickly
from livestock and rice production,” we can move away from global
he explained. “And our most livestock demand, which is
pressing need is to rapidly reduce increasing in emerging economies
greenhouse gas emissions. This and is already far too high in the
includes all emissions not just West,” he said.
carbon dioxide, but also nitrous
oxide and methane, which are all “People can change their eating
being emitted at growing rates by habits to more plant-based foods.
farming communities across the Not everyone needs to become a
world.” vegetarian or vegan but most people
consume far too much meat than is
King also believes improving soil good for them or the environment.”
health globally will play a vital role in
the fight against climate change. Clutterbuck, on the other hand, said
he believed changing the way food is
Echoing Clutterbuck he said, “We produced – whether it’s meat or
suffer from the overuse of fruits, grains and vegetables – was a
chemicals and synthetic fertilisers in far more important issue than
our farming practices. It’s extremely changing consumer eating habits.
tempting because productivity on
the whole is very high. But if we can “Livestock and crop production as
switch to composting, within a very they stand now are just as bad as
short period of time, the farmland each other. Nitrous oxide, emitted by
actually becomes just as productive nitrogen fertilisers primarily used in
as farmland that has used vegetable crops – is 300 times more
Secret is in the soil – Dr Charlie Clutterbuck
chemicals.” dangerous than carbon dioxide.
Sowing division between carnivores
King described experiments and vegetarians can be a distraction
conducted by the British from the fight against climate
government in Ethiopia and east change.
Africa where some strips of land
were chemically treated and others “What we need to do is eat more
used only composting. local, fresh food. If it’s milk from up
the road, that’s much better for the
“After about five years, the strips of environment than soya from Brazil.”
land with composting were as
productive as the others,” he Whatever their differences, both
explained. “What’s more, an Clutterbuck and King argue that
unexpected outcome was that successfully tackling the climate
during a drought, the composted crisis will require strong government
strips of land were about 80 per intervention as well as global
cent as productive as they would cooperation.
normally be whereas the other
strips of land were totally barren. “The climate crisis is much more
This is because with composting, urgent than even climate scientists
water was stored from previous themselves believed 10 or 12 years
rainfall in the soil – thanks to ago,” King said. “What we as global
earthworms that aerate the soil – communities do in the next five
whereas in the other areas the water years – and then carry through into
had run off.” actions throughout the world
following that – will determine the
Changing eating habits will be key – Sir David King “While it is a big challenge, if we can future of humanity for the next
raise the carbon content of soil – and millennia.”
16
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021CAMPAIGN Climate change n By Ryan Fletcher
Bringing ponds back to life
The Norfolk Ponds Project is re-greening Norfolk – with restored ponds
Norfolk has the most ponds of any landscape aquatic diversity is The project was inspired by pond
English county – at least 23,000 – typically low. conservation work undertaken at
but unfortunately many have been Manor Farm in Briston, North Norfolk
neglected or filled in over the last Pond restoration and management by Richard Waddingham.
50 years. benefits many farmland pond species,
including stoneworts, pondweeds, Through many years of care
The Norfolk Ponds Project (NPP) aims dragonflies, great crested newt, management, Richard, who passed
to reverse the decline of Norfolk’s crucian carp as well as a range of bird away last year, created a network of 40
ponds so that agricultural landscapes species. high quality ponds that are full of
contain a mosaic of clean water ponds. species and afford clean water
The NPP, formed in 2014 and habitats.
Unite said the NPP is exactly the kind responsible helping to bring countless
of green and job creating initiative that ponds back to life, has established The Manor Farm ponds show that
should benefit from overhaul of farming community restoration projects that re- pond conservation and intensive
subsidies. connect landowners and people with agriculture can happily co-exist.
Norfolk’s ponds.
Most of the county’s ponds are located Pond conservation studies by
in farmland and have their origins as The project also provides advice to University College London show that
marl or clay pits and in some cases land workers and owners on how to what was achieved at Richard’s ponds
livestock-watering ponds dug in the best restore and manage farmland could be replicated all over Norfolk and
17th to 19th centuries. ponds. indeed in other parts of the UK.
Others are ancient ponds and are “Farmland ponds allow you to balance Unite national officer for agriculture Bev
known as pingos – ponds that occupy farming and conservation, because you Clarkson said, “The Environmental
ice depressions formed during the last are not losing a lot of land as they are Land Management Scheme will be
great ice age. not farmable anyway,” said NPP lead rolled out in 2024 and will replace the
and University College London EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.
Since the 1970s, however, with the loss professor, Carl Sayer (pictured second Labour intensive initiatives like the NPP,
of traditional reasons for managing left), to the Eastern Daily Press. which promote greener and more
ponds, many ponds have become sustainable use of farmland and whose
overgrown by trees and bushes. “You can do this work at a low time models can be easily replicated, should
after the harvest, and it is really just benefit from the farming subsidy
Heavy tree-shading eliminates aquatic putting back old practices which would overhaul – which must ensure that
plants and animals and where have been done in the past, only now decent stable jobs are created and
overgrown ponds dominate the we’re doing it for conservation.” supported in rural communities.”
Pond clean-up – NPP team at work
Peter Everard Smith
17
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021CAMPAIGN Climate change
POND-ERING THE
WILD SIDE
We can all do something to fight climate change – like rewilding
your garden with a pond and native plants
Over the past 100 years nearly 70 per escape route for wildlife (hedgehogs can So far we haven’t seen any hedgehogs
cent of ponds have been lost from the swim but will drown if they can’t get but then we are not often at the bottom
UK countryside. Ponds are critical for back out) and created shelves or levels of the garden at night so we are going to
freshwater biodiversity and were once a within the pond for plants – different set up a wildlife camera to capture any
common feature on Britain’s farms and pond plants like to be planted at night visitors. The range of bird species
green spaces, but now are scarce as different depths. We used a heavy duty we have visiting our garden has
land is prioritised for other uses. plastic liner and rain water from our increased and we have lost a few bird
water butts. Tap water contains too feeders to mischievous squirrels!
But the humble garden pond should not much chlorine for wildlife. You can buy
be overlooked. Ponds can now play an preformed fibreglass liners that already It’s a very amateurish pond and we
increasingly important role in supporting have the levels for plants. didn’t spend a lot of money on it. We
native wildlife. Even in the most urban of repurposed what we could and all the
spaces, a garden pond can be a mini- We included native oxygenating plants stones holding the liner in place are
wetland, storing rainfall and releasing it to keep the water clear, floating plants stones that my son removed from the
slowly, helping to reduce the effects of like frogbit and waterlilies to provide soil as we dug the hole for the pond. It
heavy rainfall or long dry spells. shelter for wildlife and marginal plants will take a year or two for all of the plants
like marsh marigold and yellow flag iris. to grow and fill the space fully but
A wildlife pond can be as simple as a We also added some larger plants like everyday there is something new to see.
large washing up bowl and doesn’t heucheras around the edge of the pond,
need a pump or filter – a combination of and placed some upturned broken pots
native pond plants will keep the water and a log pile for cover for amphibians
clear and healthy. leaving the pond.
Find out more
• Ponds and how to build
My youngest son, like many people, has Nature found our pond very quickly. them www.wildlifetrusts.org
been concerned about our declining Within a day there were birds bathing in • Native pond plants
hedgehog population and wanted to try the shallow beach end and within a www.wwt.org.uk
and attract hedgehogs and amphibians week we had mosquito larvae. Then • Water for wildlife
to our garden. As an organic gardener I came hoverfly larvae, which fed on the www.wildlifetrusts.org
like the idea of attracting predators of mosquito larvae.
• Wild gardens and hedges
garden pests (hedgehogs and
amphibians eat slugs and snails) so over We were too late for any frog spawn but www.rspb.org.uk
the Easter bank holiday we decided to a neighbour who had to have their pond • Plant a native tree
add a wildlife pond to our own garden. filled in asked us to take some newt www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
tadpoles. It is not recommended to add • Pollen rich flowers
We chose the bottom of our garden to wildlife to your pond as it can spread www.rhs.org.uk
site it as it backs on to allotments so disease between ponds and crested
• Companion planting
would be easy to create a passageway newts are protected and should not be
moved. But these were smooth newts www.planttheory.co.uk
for wildlife to enter.
and they were living in a bucket so we • Buy seeds
We added a shallow beach end with a took them in and they settled happily in www.naturescape.co.uk
gentle slope for safe access and an our pond.
18
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021n By Jody Whitehill
WHY NOT TRY THIS AT HOME?
There are many things you can do
for wildlife in your garden.
Stop the use of all pesticides –
these damage all wildlife, not just the
targeted pests. Attract predators of
pests to your garden instead. Birds,
amphibians and hedgehogs will all eat
slugs and snails; hoverfly, lacewings
and parasitic wasps all feed on
aphids. Look at companion planting
to attract the right predators to the
areas that you need them. Yarrow and
marigolds next to my roses has
stopped an aphid infestation.
Plant for pollinators – create
diversity with a good variety of pollen-
rich flowers that have different flower
shapes (to accommodate different
pollinator species’ tongue lengths)
and flowering periods from early
spring to late summer – even
throughout the winter if you can.
Plant a tree – native trees will help
attract birds and insects and many
also provide pollen early in the year
when flowers aren’t yet in bloom.
Grow a hedge – if you don’t have
room for trees hedges are also very
good for providing shelter and food
for wildlife.
Plant native wildflowers – one in five
of Britain’s native wildflowers is
threatened with extinction.
Leave part of your garden wild – let
the grass grow long like a meadow for
small mammals and also somewhere
for butterflies to lay their eggs.
If you don’t have room for a pond
even just putting out bowls of water
for birds and hedgehogs will help.
Add some stones so that bees can
drink too without the risk of drowning.
If you don’t have a garden you can
still have window boxes with
pollinator friendly plants. Every
centimetre planted with the right
flowers counts.
19
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021FEATURE Tolpuddle Martyrs
‘Raise the
watchword liberty’
20
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021n By Alan Jones
One hundred and eighty seven years after the
Tolpuddle Martyrs’ brave stand, today’s farmworkers
still face many similar issues
Thousands of trade unionists and their Dorset was full of rural landowners in working conditions helps us all.”
families have traditionally enjoyed the those days, and there is still a strong Unite rural and agricultural members
annual Tolpuddle Festival, listening to industry here, although there has been see themselves as the heirs of the
speeches and music, and taking in the a big increase in large scale Tolpuddle Martyrs, and their fight still
remarkable history of this small Dorset horticulture.” matters to rural and agricultural
village. workers – in fact to all union members.
Walking through the village with Tony
The sun usually shines at the July takes ages. Everyone knows him and Unite national officer Bev Clarkson is
event, but coronavirus has cast a stops to chat, and there’s a story on the front line of dealing with the
massive cloud over most gatherings behind many of the buildings we pass modern day scourges of low pay and
this year, so the festival is moving on our way to the Martyrs’ Museum, insecure jobs, as well as the health
online, with the promise of a packed which has recently reopened after and safety of workers in industries
agenda “straight into your living room.” being closed because of Covid. such as food and agriculture.
From his living room opposite the The museum, which usually forms the The pandemic has added further
Martyrs Inn in the centre of Tolpuddle, backdrop to the politics and pop of the complications, but Bev is clear about
Tony Gould would be able to see the festival, tells the harrowing tale of the the importance of the need to maintain
festival visitors walk through the village Martyrs’ arrest, trial and punishment. standards despite the many pressures
– except he's usually at the front imposed by buyers such as
himself, giving a guided tour and Modern techniques such as interactive supermarkets.
history lesson of what life was like for touch screen displays and graphic
agricultural workers in the 1830s. panels tell the story in text and images, Most dangerous industry
Tony is a true Tolpuddle legend, and covering the Martyrs’ attempts to Agriculture is regularly named as the
just happens to be secretary of Unite’s improve their pay, their arrest, most dangerous industry in the
Tolpuddle branch, so who better to call transportation to Australia and their country, and migrant workers often
on for help in bringing the remarkable triumphant homecoming. live in appalling conditions.
Martyrs' story up to date.
We are joined on our walk by John Bev has tackled all these problems,
His house is next door to where Burbidge, a farm worker and chair of many of which have been magnified
James Brine, one of the original Unite’s Tolpuddle branch, who knows by the virus crisis.
Martyrs, lived, which is as close as you first-hand how relevant the Martyrs’
can get to touching history. story is today. A shortage of workers is starting to
affect many sectors of the economy,
Tony says that farming is very different As well as campaigning for the return and Bev says some agricultural
now, with a culture of contract working of the AWB, John is tackling the long workers are swapping a job with low
and ever bigger machines taking to the hours and low pay culture still blighting pay and long hours, for safer, better
fields - but many of the problems the industry, as well as helping migrant paid employment in areas such as
which forced the original Martyrs to workers understand what they are delivery driving.
fight back, remain. entitled to be paid.
“Reinstating the wages board would
Pay and conditions are usually top of All this against a backdrop of workers make a massive difference,” she says.
any union's agenda, but the abolition leaving the industry for safer, better
of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) paid jobs, and a steady decline in the Steve Leniec, who chairs Unite’s
in England by the Conservatives in number of agricultural colleges. agriculture sub sector, agrees,
2013 made Unite’s job of protecting believing the industry in England has
workers even harder. “It is really important to keep the lost the guarantee on wages the board
festival going,” he says. “Trade unions used to give. “Pay rises are negotiated
There are now fears that the are under attack and we are living in a with individual employers, and a lot of
mechanism for setting pay in Northern socially divisive country where issues workers simply don’t get an annual
Ireland will also change. like lack of housing are having a huge increase.
impact on people in rural
Tony says the control farmers had over communities. “We still have discussions with the
their workers in the time of the Martyrs National Farmers Union to try to
was “tremendous.Farmers still have “Joining other trade unionists and keep it on the agenda –and not every
control, and although life is different, hearing how they are tackling injustice farmer was in favour of the abolition.
many of the issues are the same. and fighting for decent pay and Obviously we would like a return to
Mark Thomas
21
uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2021You can also read
