feature Agri technicians’ pay
n By Mark Metcalf
UNITE
BOOSTING THE MOO-D
Unite brings in better pay and conditions at AI Services
Highly skilled Irish technicians who work for AI Services by artificially inseminating cows for dairy and beef farmers, should finally enjoy much better pay and conditions, thanks to Unite.
Artificial insemination (AI), which has revolutionised cattle production worldwide since the 1940s, has been widely adopted across Ireland because it enables cattle semen to be stored for years. This means farmers don’t need to keep bulls on the farm for breeding 25-30 female cows.
Assisted reproductive technology also permits cattle producers to efficiently introduce desired genetics into their herds. This ensures farmers can be confident that the born calf will either later produce milk or can be raised for meat production.
A test tube is used to deposit fertile semen as close as possible to the ovum inside the female cattle’s reproductive tract.
Well-managed AI programmes consistently report conception rates exceeding 65 per cent in healthy cows.
The whole AI process is complicated, requiring great skill and diligence. Yet for decades those who have worked to provide this essential service for cattle farming across the agricultural industry that forms a major part of the Irish economy, have been very badly paid.
Working without contracts they have been forced into toiling long hours on a ‘per cow born’ basis that left them earning below the minimum wage. This all began to change when Unite were contacted in August 2025. A meeting with Unite regional officer Albert Hewitt, at a remote filling station, saw a substantial number of workers, some with three decades of experience in their trade, attend to raise their concerns.
Hewitt represents workers at Lakeland Dairies and Caterpillar as well as some Community members.
15 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2026
He explained how the union should be able to help them organise to improve their working lives and recruited the technicians as members.
Hewitt said, “They had realised their wages were never going up and agreed to join.”
Armed with strong backing from his new Unite members, Hewitt approached AI Services seeking a voluntary recognition agreement.
The company has responded positively even employing a new human resources manager.
Hewitt said, “I am working with her on this, including getting new contracts drawn up. I am confident the issues can be resolved so there is a tracking system that records how many hours are being worked. A pay rate that, at the very least, initially exceeds the minimum wage can then form the basis for long term further improvements.”
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 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
