Rural workers fend off low pay assault

Farm workers came from all over the country to demonstrate on the last day of a hasty government consultation on the future of the 60-year-old Agricultural Wages Board (AWB).

They were joined by a team of "badgers" who have been part of the campaign.

Rural farm worker Steve Leniec said: "We will not be silenced over this. We will shout it from the rooftops.

"Without the AWB to negotiate pay and fair housing, wages will fall to the lowest legal wage possible.

"Bad employers will see this as the opportunity to cut pay and raise housing costs."

Unite has accused ministers of rushing through plans to scrap the board, which will mean a major shift of wealth away from those who work on the land to those who own it and cast the shadow of poverty.

National officer for rural and agricultural workers Julia Long said: "Even the Thatcher and Major governments didn't go as far as scrapping the AWB, recognising rural workers are very vulnerable and need protection.

"But this government is speeding through a mock consultation, possibly flouting the law, so that they can abolish a pay structure that was introduced almost a century ago."

Before the AWB was created there were bitter strikes and battles as workers fought for better wages and conditions. The Welsh government opposes the abolition.