NEWSTop Stories
n By Mark Metcalf
GREAT RESULT FOR THE NORTHERN IRELAND AWB
Unite shows an above inflation pay rise can be achieved*
For the second time in two decades, Unite has led a successful defence of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) in Northern Ireland (NI). It has also proved possible to negotiate an above inflation (at that time) pay increase for thousands of agricultural workers.
Plans to scrap the AWB were announced last year to the Northern Ireland Assembly by Rural Affairs Minister, Edwin Poots. They were immediately opposed by the union pointing out the need for a collective bargaining body to cover agricultural workers working in the private sector from being badly exploited.
The NI AWB secures workers’ pay under the national minimum wage; sets enforcement standards for piece rates; provides enhanced levels of sick and holiday pay; guarantees overtime pay at 1.5 times the standard rate and provides protection for section 75 groups by
requiring public authorities to have due regard for the need to promote equality of opportunity.
Many of the 11,000 agricultural sector employees covered by the NI AWB are migrant workers with little other protection.
Unite’s campaign to retain the NIAWB won the backing of the entire trade union movement, the official rural community network of NI, rural councils and small farmer organisations such as Family Farmers for Action. While the Ulster Farmers’ Union that represents larger farmers backed scrapping the AWB, the majority of respondents to the Department of Agriculture’s public consultation wished to retain the AWB, which will be 75 years old next year.
It was confirmed by Poots’ department that ‘there was
insufficient time and capacity for the AWB proposal to be progressed [through the Assembly]. The matter will therefore remain on hold, subject to consideration by an incoming executive and Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister.’
The decision to put ‘on hold’ scrapping the AWB was “welcomed” by Unite’s Donal O’Cofaigh who said that “without Unite’s campaign the AWB would have been lost and it is the second time in two decades that the union has led a successful defence of the NIAWB.”
The AWB reprieve meant that pay negotiations were able to proceed this year. The employers had begun by offering no increase at all but were forced “to concede an increase of 5 per cent from 1 April,” states Joanne McWilliams, Unite regional officer.
stormont
Defend & expand the AWB
6 uniteLANDWORKERSummer 2022
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