n By Alan Jones


rural areas where transport links are poor.


“People can get more money stacking shelves than toiling away for long hours on a farm,” he told Landworker.


He is also determined to achieve a Welsh Living Wage, adding that the national living wage has become a ceiling for agriculture workers rather than a baseline.


Agriculture – Not always an easy choice


Last year marked the 10th anniversary of a panel which helps set the pay and conditions of agricultural workers and should have been a moment of celebration.


But Unite finds itself in a battle to retain the Welsh Agricultural Advisory Panel (WAAP) because of demands from the National Farmers Union (NFU) for it to be scrapped.


The panel was established following the abolition of the national Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2013.


The AWB was a crucial body for setting the pay and conditions for agricultural workers across the UK, agreed by representatives from the NFU and unions.


Unite has been campaigning for its reinstatement – especially for workers in England, where no form of wages panel exists.


Unite warmly welcomed the Welsh advisory panel, which the union hoped would lift agricultural wages in Wales. But these workers are now among the worst affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis.


Unite believes poor wages in agriculture is a major contributor to rural poverty in Wales, affects recruitment and even threatens the sustainability of communities.


Unite regional officer Jo Galazka is at the forefront of attempts to lift pay and conditions in Wales and was hoping the 10th anniversary of the WAAP would be a turning point.


But as well as drawing up Unite’s next pay claim, she is now having to campaign to stop the panel being scrapped.


Unite is pushing for agricultural workers to be paid a Welsh Living Wage as a baseline.


“We want to make the sector attractive for current and new workers, and you do that by having decent pay and conditions,” she told Landworker.


“It feels as though we are having to defend agriculture and at the same time explain why workers should have negotiating rights.”


Jo, one of Uniteʼs representatives on the WAAP, warns of an employment crisis in Wales, with an ageing workforce and fewer young people taking up jobs, leading to a shortage of labour.


“Last year more people left the sector in Wales than joined, so it’s clear not enough is being done to attract young people. The main way to address this crisis is to pay them more money.”


Jo is working on Unite’s submission for the next pay rise, which she says will be “reasonable and fair”, adding, “It’s not unambitious to ask for workers to be paid a Welsh Living Wage.”


Jo is clear the WAAP must be retained, as it covers areas other than pay such as overtime and career progression.


“We will fight with everything we have got to protect it, otherwise workers will lose out and their wages will be eroded every year.”


Fellow panel member Barrie Roberts, who chairs Unite’s food, drink and agriculture sector in Wales, issued a similar warning about recruitment because of poor pay and conditions, worsened by the impact of Brexit.


He points out that jobs in agriculture can be tough, with unsocial hours, in


21 uniteLANDWORKER Spring 2026


Uniteʼs national officer for food, drink and agriculture, Paul Travers, says many union members in Wales are only paid the minimum wage, living a frugal lifestyle.


“We are now faced with the NFU wanting to break away from any form of a structure to ensure there is at least decent pay for our members.


“None of our members are on substantial salaries – how bad do things have to get before farmers and governments say, this is wrong, we must listen to the unions?


“We are probably the only voice arguing for better pay and conditions for agriculture workers.”


Paul says a Welsh Living Wage should be higher than the UK-wide National Living Wage if recruitment is going to be improved.


“We don’t want to see farm workers just paid the National Living Wage because the job is hard enough as it is.”


Paul worries that the Westminster government is not responding to unions when they raise important issues such as reinstating the AWB.


‘‘


We want to make the sector attractive for current and new workers….by having decent pay and conditions. [It’s like] we’re having to defend agriculture and at the same time explain why workers should have negotiating rights


Jo Galazka, Unite regional officer


Mark Thomas


Alamy


‘‘


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