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| UK 'facing farming labour crisis' | UK 'facing farming labour crisis' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UK is facing a labour crisis in the agriculture and horticulture industry, a trade union warns. | The UK is facing a labour crisis in the agriculture and horticulture industry, a trade union warns. |
| Unite says an ageing workforce, combined with migrant workers returning home, is leading to a labour gap which could affect food supplies. | Unite says an ageing workforce, combined with migrant workers returning home, is leading to a labour gap which could affect food supplies. |
| It is calling on the National Farmers' Union (NFU) to agree to a 6% pay rise demand for farm workers to help attract more young people into farming. | It is calling on the National Farmers' Union (NFU) to agree to a 6% pay rise demand for farm workers to help attract more young people into farming. |
| The NFU say they have have made a credible opening offer. | |
| A decline in farm workers could lead to food shortages | A decline in farm workers could lead to food shortages |
| Unite represents skilled workers across the industry, whose jobs include driving tractors, looking after livestock, sowing and harvesting crops. | Unite represents skilled workers across the industry, whose jobs include driving tractors, looking after livestock, sowing and harvesting crops. |
| The union says the shortage of workers could affect food supplies in the UK and abroad. | The union says the shortage of workers could affect food supplies in the UK and abroad. |
| It says half of all farm workers are over 55 and a quarter are over 65. | It says half of all farm workers are over 55 and a quarter are over 65. |
| Both sides of industry agree that the only salvation is to attract young workers into the industry Chris Kaufman Unite | Both sides of industry agree that the only salvation is to attract young workers into the industry Chris Kaufman Unite |
| In addition to a pay rise, Unite is calling for the creation of a pension scheme, improvements to holiday entitlement, Sunday and bank holiday pay, sick pay, bereavement leave and a revision of accommodation for temporary workers. | In addition to a pay rise, Unite is calling for the creation of a pension scheme, improvements to holiday entitlement, Sunday and bank holiday pay, sick pay, bereavement leave and a revision of accommodation for temporary workers. |
| Unite's national secretary for food and agriculture, Chris Kaufman, said: "Fathers are advising their children not to follow them into farming because they cannot get a living wage. | Unite's national secretary for food and agriculture, Chris Kaufman, said: "Fathers are advising their children not to follow them into farming because they cannot get a living wage. |
| "Both sides of industry agree that the only salvation is to attract young workers into the industry but for that the NFU must put its money where its mouth is." | "Both sides of industry agree that the only salvation is to attract young workers into the industry but for that the NFU must put its money where its mouth is." |
| Negotiations continue at the Agricultural Wages Board - which sets pay and conditions for farm workers in England and Wales. | |
| The NFU says: "We have made an opening offer. This is a credible offer bearing in mind sectors such as livestock which have not seen any increase in their incomes." |