NFU disappointed with Agricultural Wages Board settlement

The NFU says it’s disappointed with the outcome of this year’s Agricultural Wages Board negotiations.

The AWB has imposed a settlement of 2.9 per cent on grades two and above, and a significant 2.5 per cent increase on Grade one keeping it two pence over the National Minimum Wage.

While below inflation, the settlement is above the current average of wage settlements currently being agreed in the wider economy. It is also greater than both the National Minimum Wage increase and the recent agreement for agricultural workers in Scotland. Yet again, England and Wales face a larger increase in Agriculture Wages Order rates than the 2.5 per cent settlement that was agreed in Scotland.

NFU lead negotiator Bob Fiddaman said: "The industry is already struggling to manage higher costs for a range of inputs. On top of that, many farmers are experiencing difficult crop conditions following the drought which will create further financial uncertainty as we look to the settlement period.

"This is a tough outcome and I am disappointed that we were unable to persuade the AWB of the rising input costs faced by the industry over the past months. The National Minimum Wage increase applicable to other sectors would have been fairer overall, and particularly in view of the difficult growing conditions in the Eastern counties.

"We will continue to question why farming should be singled out as a sector by the presence of a unique and separate legislative structure that underpins wage bargaining and employment terms. We look forward to confirmation of the timeframe regarding the abolition of the AWB."