Farm workers call for pay rise

2 Feb 2011

Leaders of 154,000 agricultural workers in England and Wales have tabled a claim for a "substantial" pay rise and an extra day off.
Unite told the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), that agricultural employees deserved a decent wage increase to counter rising inflation, and a public holiday to commemorate Workers' Memorial Day on April 28.

I feel for the farmers but is this a good time for wage increases?

2 Feb 2011

My feeling is everyone should get an annual increase to match the previous average rate of inflation unless the company involved is actually losing money hand over fist, laying people off and certainly not paying any sgares dividends.
Other than that - smaller companies must struggle immensly at the moment. But if they can afford to pay it - their workers can't afford to lose it.

2 Feb 2011

The problem the farm workers may have, is that the farmers union has since WW2 at least, travelled very much hand in hand with the incumbent government.
After the war securing the nations food supply was seen by all parties as a necessity meaning that they were on the whole co-operative with the Mrs Thatcher kicked up little fuss about E.U. farm is no longer the case Tesco are king and as Flower points out the farmers are at their mercy.
I wish the farm workers luck, but fear that unless they become militant they will have little success.

2 Feb 2011

Quote by Staggerlee_BB
The problem the farm workers may have, is that the farmers union has since WW2 at least, travelled very much hand in hand with the incumbent government.
After the war securing the nations food supply was seen by all parties as a necessity meaning that they were on the whole co-operative with the Mrs Thatcher kicked up little fuss about E.U. farm is no longer the case Tesco are king and as Flower points out the farmers are at their mercy.
I wish the farm workers luck, but fear that unless they become militant they will have little success.

Tesco's do hold all the cards, that is true... But, sadly, consumers gave them that power.
But the farmers do hold quite some power, but to use it, at what cost to them selves...
dunno

2 Feb 2011

Quote by Staggerlee_BB
The problem the farm workers may have, is that the farmers union has since WW2 at least, travelled very much hand in hand with the incumbent government.
After the war securing the nations food supply was seen by all parties as a necessity meaning that they were on the whole co-operative with the Mrs Thatcher kicked up little fuss about E.U. farm is no longer the case Tesco are king and as Flower points out the farmers are at their mercy.
I wish the farm workers luck, but fear that unless they become militant they will have little success.

For once, I agree with Staggers (quelle horreur!!). Too much out of season stuff is demanded by the food buying public so the green footprint is shot to bits. Moving stuff hundreds of kilometres to the UK and transporting it across Britain using very expensive motor fuel doesn't help one bit.
It wouldn't take long for the farmers to re-educate the likes of Tesco about their worth to the nation if they did something on an organised basis. But the British public need to play their part too. Demanding exotic produce out of season and not capable of being grown in the UK makes the Tesco buyer king. There are huge profits made in food distribution and the balance can be redressed in favour of the producer if the right mindset is in place.
More controversially (and extremely sexist, I have to say) is that the reliance on pre-packed "stick it in the microwave" ready meals is a lot to blame here. One parent (the one who usually wears the dresses and makeup) should be at home cooking nutritious meals for all the family from basic ingredients readily available locally in season rather than trying to be a breadwinner. As the jobs market shrinks, perhaps this might become viable once more.
(now taking shelter under the kitchen table)

2 Feb 2011

Quote by GnV
(snip)
More controversially (and extremely sexist, I have to say) is that the reliance on pre-packed "stick it in the microwave" ready meals is a lot to blame here. One parent (the one who usually wears the dresses and makeup) should be at home cooking nutritious meals for all the family from basic ingredients readily available locally in season rather than trying to be a breadwinner. As the jobs market shrinks, perhaps this might become viable once more.
(now taking shelter under the kitchen table)

I agree with a lot you have put - but I have to ask, how does wearing a dress make you the one who should do cooking? I wasn't aware clothing was involved in the task - just hands and brain.
In edit - and does the fact that I have hardly ever worn a dress mean I shouldn't cook?

2 Feb 2011

Quote by foxylady2209
(snip)
More controversially (and extremely sexist, I have to say) is that the reliance on pre-packed "stick it in the microwave" ready meals is a lot to blame here. One parent (the one who usually wears the dresses and makeup) should be at home cooking nutritious meals for all the family from basic ingredients readily available locally in season rather than trying to be a breadwinner. As the jobs market shrinks, perhaps this might become viable once more.
(now taking shelter under the kitchen table)

I agree with a lot you have put - but I have to ask, how does wearing a dress make you the one who should do cooking? I wasn't aware clothing was involved in the task - just hands and brain.
In edit - and does the fact that I have hardly ever worn a dress mean I shouldn't cook?
I try not to disappoint foxy... MCP comes to mind here and I couldn't bring myself to say "the female" as others might complain about my clear discrimination; so, for the record colloquially speaking of course and without wishing to offend, I would say the female partner or perhaps the budding Mrs Doubtfires who might prefer to wear appropriate female attire supplemented with lashings of slapstick to give a better effect. wink

2 Feb 2011

Quote by GnV
(snip)
More controversially (and extremely sexist, I have to say) is that the reliance on pre-packed "stick it in the microwave" ready meals is a lot to blame here. One parent (the one who usually wears the dresses and makeup) should be at home cooking nutritious meals for all the family from basic ingredients readily available locally in season rather than trying to be a breadwinner. As the jobs market shrinks, perhaps this might become viable once more.
(now taking shelter under the kitchen table)

I agree with a lot you have put - but I have to ask, how does wearing a dress make you the one who should do cooking? I wasn't aware clothing was involved in the task - just hands and brain.
In edit - and does the fact that I have hardly ever worn a dress mean I shouldn't cook?
I try not to disappoint foxy... MCP comes to mind here and I couldn't bring myself to say "the female" as others might complain about my clear discrimination; so, for the record colloquially speaking of course and without wishing to offend, I would say the female partner or perhaps the budding Mrs Doubtfires who might prefer to wear appropriate female attire supplemented with lashings of slapstick to give a better effect. wink

If you are serious - you are an idiot. If you're joking - why bother? It just makes you look like an idiot. dunno

2 Feb 2011

Quote by flower411
The problem the farm workers may have, is that the farmers union has since WW2 at least, travelled very much hand in hand with the incumbent government.
After the war securing the nations food supply was seen by all parties as a necessity meaning that they were on the whole co-operative with the Mrs Thatcher kicked up little fuss about E.U. farm is no longer the case Tesco are king and as Flower points out the farmers are at their mercy.
I wish the farm workers luck, but fear that unless they become militant they will have little success.

For once, I agree with Staggers (quelle horreur!!). Too much out of season stuff is demanded by the food buying public so the green footprint is shot to bits. Moving stuff hundreds of kilometres to the UK and transporting it across Britain using very expensive motor fuel doesn't help one bit.
It wouldn't take long for the farmers to re-educate the likes of Tesco about their worth to the nation if they did something on an organised basis. But the British public need to play their part too. Demanding exotic produce out of season and not capable of being grown in the UK makes the Tesco buyer king. There are huge profits made in food distribution and the balance can be redressed in favour of the producer if the right mindset is in place.
More controversially (and extremely sexist, I have to say) is that the reliance on pre-packed "stick it in the microwave" ready meals is a lot to blame here. One parent (the one who usually wears the dresses and makeup) should be at home cooking nutritious meals for all the family from basic ingredients readily available locally in season rather than trying to be a breadwinner. As the jobs market shrinks, perhaps this might become viable once more.
(now taking shelter under the kitchen table)
The worse things get the more need we have of a " weyhey !! here`s a fuckin sexist comment comming up " emoticon !!
I happen to think that some of us have moved on, but I`ll admit to my prejudice feelings that GnV may well be right !
Some sections of society still see women as the kitchen dwellers and men as the hunter gatherers !!
You ain't seen V with a sharpened kitchen knife! The local rabbit population simply jumps on the chopping board in awe! lol

2 Feb 2011

Quote by foxylady2209
(snip)
More controversially (and extremely sexist, I have to say) is that the reliance on pre-packed "stick it in the microwave" ready meals is a lot to blame here. One parent (the one who usually wears the dresses and makeup) should be at home cooking nutritious meals for all the family from basic ingredients readily available locally in season rather than trying to be a breadwinner. As the jobs market shrinks, perhaps this might become viable once more.
(now taking shelter under the kitchen table)

I agree with a lot you have put - but I have to ask, how does wearing a dress make you the one who should do cooking? I wasn't aware clothing was involved in the task - just hands and brain.
In edit - and does the fact that I have hardly ever worn a dress mean I shouldn't cook?
I try not to disappoint foxy... MCP comes to mind here and I couldn't bring myself to say "the female" as others might complain about my clear discrimination; so, for the record colloquially speaking of course and without wishing to offend, I would say the female partner or perhaps the budding Mrs Doubtfires who might prefer to wear appropriate female attire supplemented with lashings of slapstick to give a better effect. wink

If you are serious - you are an idiot. If you're joking - why bother? It just makes you look like an idiot. dunno

I love it when you get all hot under the collar foxy.. so sexy :wink:

2 Feb 2011

Quote by GnV
(snip)
More controversially (and extremely sexist, I have to say) is that the reliance on pre-packed "stick it in the microwave" ready meals is a lot to blame here. One parent (the one who usually wears the dresses and makeup) should be at home cooking nutritious meals for all the family from basic ingredients readily available locally in season rather than trying to be a breadwinner. As the jobs market shrinks, perhaps this might become viable once more.
(now taking shelter under the kitchen table)

I agree with a lot you have put - but I have to ask, how does wearing a dress make you the one who should do cooking? I wasn't aware clothing was involved in the task - just hands and brain.
In edit - and does the fact that I have hardly ever worn a dress mean I shouldn't cook?
I try not to disappoint foxy... MCP comes to mind here and I couldn't bring myself to say "the female" as others might complain about my clear discrimination; so, for the record colloquially speaking of course and without wishing to offend, I would say the female partner or perhaps the budding Mrs Doubtfires who might prefer to wear appropriate female attire supplemented with lashings of slapstick to give a better effect. wink

If you are serious - you are an idiot. If you're joking - why bother? It just makes you look like an idiot. dunno

I love it when you get all hot under the collar foxy.. so sexy :wink:
Not hot at all - simply bemused.

3 Feb 2011

The answer of course was widely suggested in a recent thread. These people should simply move to places where there are lots of highly paid jobs.

3 Feb 2011

Quote by foxylady2209
(snip)
More controversially (and extremely sexist, I have to say) is that the reliance on pre-packed "stick it in the microwave" ready meals is a lot to blame here. One parent (the one who usually wears the dresses and makeup) should be at home cooking nutritious meals for all the family from basic ingredients readily available locally in season rather than trying to be a breadwinner. As the jobs market shrinks, perhaps this might become viable once more.
(now taking shelter under the kitchen table)

I agree with a lot you have put - but I have to ask, how does wearing a dress make you the one who should do cooking? I wasn't aware clothing was involved in the task - just hands and brain.
In edit - and does the fact that I have hardly ever worn a dress mean I shouldn't cook?
I try not to disappoint foxy... MCP comes to mind here and I couldn't bring myself to say "the female" as others might complain about my clear discrimination; so, for the record colloquially speaking of course and without wishing to offend, I would say the female partner or perhaps the budding Mrs Doubtfires who might prefer to wear appropriate female attire supplemented with lashings of slapstick to give a better effect. wink

If you are serious - you are an idiot. If you're joking - why bother? It just makes you look like an idiot. dunno

I love it when you get all hot under the collar foxy.. so sexy :wink:
Not hot at all - simply bemused.
Well, it just seemed to me that a bit of mischief might lighten things up a bit :wink:

3 Feb 2011

Quote by Bluefish2009
I feel for the farmers but is this a good time for wage increases?

It's the same time as every year when discussions start on farm workers pay. As opening gambits go, more money and holiday seems a good starting point for negotiations from the workers point of view. No doubt the NFU reps will argue the opposite and we'll end up with the usual pay rise that's at, or around the rate of inflation.

5 Feb 2011

Tesco's and the other supermarket chains all have the upper hand with farmers, be it meat, dairy or arable. Most Farms have signed agreements with the supermarkets to only supply them and at an agreed price etc etc.(ie one farmer can't supply Tesco's and JS, it's one or the other) If the farmer wants more or to renegotiate the contract then it's often the case that either demand for that farmers product is reduced or worse he's told that the contract is lost. It's just a matter of the supermarkets playing one farmer against each other the fears associate should they lose out.
If at some point the supermarkets do actually agree to increasing what the farmers get you can be rest assured that this increase will be past onto the consumer (and more) as it can't obviously effect their fat profits.
Tesco's - Every little hurts!