FEATURE Rural rebels
successful campaign by our members forced them to back down”.
Barry subsequently became lead negotiator at the Forestry Commission where he came up against a number of managers who were ex-military. “They sought to treat workers as raw recruits but found themselves on a long learning curve. We had a lot of good able people as members and achieved decent pay, welfare and health and safety conditions”.
One highly successful health and safety struggle that won international support was led by Chris Kaufmann, who worked for the NUAW from 1974 onwards and became Landworker editor in 1980.
Employed in industrial agriculture when it was sprayed on fields to kill weeds, the herbicide 245-T, which contained dioxin, was known to be unsafe after it was used by the US military in Vietnam.
“We had many members complaining of the effects of 245-T. We took up their concerns vigorously and discovered we had support worldwide.
We sought to get the product officially banned. Although we did not get that agreed by Parliament here or in New Zealand, where the last factory manufacturing the product was based, the issue had become so toxic that everyone had stopped buying it. It was a People’s Ban and it became
uneconomic to manufacture”.
Another successful NUAW safety campaign led to it being compulsory for tractor cabs to having a heavy bar on the roof to stop them tipping over.
“Dozens of workers, including farmers, who initially had a remit to ignore the new regulations, resulting in the unnecessary deaths of many of them, owe their lives to the NUAW, who, once again, campaigned for decades,” explains Chris who also referenced
how the establishment of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority in 2004 was a body that the NUAW had sought as long ago as the 1930s.
All three men also believe the NUAW was key to keeping alive rural services by joining with others, including the Women’s Institute, in defending local bus services, post offices, GP surgeries and village halls. Landworker magazine gave members a means of highlighting rural issues in general.
“NUAW activists also got elected to local Parish Councils where they’d campaign to retain rural schools. They’d try to hold the line,” states Chris.
“Many NUAW members were brave to stand up for their rights and those of their fellow workers. They should be remembered,” states Tony.
By joining the TGWU in 1983, NUAW members combined with TGWU
Win a copy of Skilled at All Trades, the history of the farmworkers’ union 1947-1984, by Bob Wynn. Simply identify the mystery delegate in pic below. Answers by email or post to ed Amanda Campbell,
amanda.campbell@
unitetheunion.org By May 31.
n By Mark Metcalf
agricultural workers in a new dedicated trade group, obtained greater access to legal support and MPs and were able to call on drivers in the union not to cross picket lines when there was a dispute on.
Today, our ‘rural rebels’ are happy to keep a watching brief and advise the rest of the us when asked.
“
Dozens of workers, including farmers, who i nitially had a remit to ignore the new regulations, resulting in the unnecessary deaths of many of them, owe their lives to the NUAW
Chris Kaufman, ex-NUAW
officer, later T&G Landworker editor and Unite national officer
” Find out more
Visit the University of Reading’s Museum of English Rural Life or online at
https://merl.reading.ac.uk/expl ore/online-exhibitions/
Nearly over – One of the last NUAAW TUC delegations. Back row (l to r): Peter Peck, Chris Kaufman, Mystery Delegate, Kevin O'Reilly, Alec Russell, Merle Boddy; middle row: Joan Maynard, Mrs Peck, Ron Wickett, Jack Brocklebank, Wilf Page; front row: Geoff Beer, Jack Boddy and John Hose
28 uniteLANDWORKER Spring 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
