For many months Unite’s food and agriculture activists have been extremely concerned over the way workers are being packed into factories and field, many of them migrant workers often living in…Read more…
Three food processing plants close amid outbreak fears
Unite’s warning that food processing plants could turn into hotspots for Covid-19 transmission is coming to pass after three factories have shut amid suspected coronavirus outbreaks. On Thursday…Read more…
Farm and agriculture workers feel Covid-19 pressure
“It is interesting to see how key to a functioning society many ‘unskilled’ workers really are, from farmworkers, to pack house workers, to delivery drivers and shop workers.
The post Farm and…Read more…
The village that saved hundreds of lives
Lying in the Peak District National Park, Eyam is a beautiful historical village of under 1,000 people. Officially first opened in 1994 its museum is now past its planned spring 2020 opening of last…Read more…
Shining a spotlight on precarious work
The coronavirus crisis has shone a spotlight on the precarious nature of jobs across the UK, especially in counties such as Dorset. More workers than ever are on zero-hours contracts in the…Read more…
Unite heroes feeding the nation
Unite food, drink and agriculture workers – we thank yo
The post Unite heroes feeding the nation appeared first on UNITElive.org.Read more…
‘Totally bonkers’
Last Wednesday (February 19) UniteLive highlighted the government’s new ‘points-based’ immigration system. Now, we investigate further with a series of features about what these new…Read more…
‘Trading away our standards’
When the Labour party made public explosive documents detailing secret trade talks between US and UK officials, much of the focus was on the threat to the NHS. But hidden in the 450-page…Read more…
‘Huge boost’ for rural communities
Unite has highlighted the boost free full-fibre broadband would bring to rural communities across the UK after the Labour party announced on Friday (November 15) its latest pledge. Unveiling…Read more…
Rural schools under threat
Unite TUC delegate and rural activist Ivan Monckton makes an impassioned plea to conference to save our rural schools, on the final day of the conference, September 11. Watch here …Read more…
‘Their whole way of life will be gone’
On his first visit to Wales as prime minister in late July, Boris Johnson was warned that “civil unrest” could breakout if he plunged the UK into a “catastrophic” no deal Brexit on 31 October. …Read more…
Rural crime rise – Tory cuts to blame
Rural crime has hit a seven year high, costing a massive £50m last year, new figures show. A report by insurer NFU Mutual found that rural crime increased by 12 per cent from 2017 to 2018 –…Read more…
‘Fearless, campaigning journalism’
Unite celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Landworker magazine – the oldest trade union publication still in circulation – at this year’s Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival in Dorset with a panel…Read more…
Rural news tops Corbyn’s address
Jeremy Corbyn praised Unite’s Landworker magazine as part of his speech encompassing rural issues at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival in Dorset yesterday (July 21). Holding aloft a copy…Read more…
‘The doctor won’t see you’ – as rural surgeries close
The picturesque Cornish fishing village of Mevagissey was up against a problem faced by many rural and coastal areas – it desperately needed a GP. When their local family doctor Dr Katherine…Read more…
Rural fund ‘inadequate’ slam
A £10m government fund to help rural communities become cleaner and more sustainable has been criticised as inadequate. New community projects across England are now being encouraged to apply…Read more…
‘I didn’t get help’
Protracted isolation, long hours and stressful work conditions have created a toxic mix that’s fuelling mental health problems among British farm workers. A new BBC analysis of the latest…Read more…
‘Complete disaster’
Government “no deal” plans to provide limited protections for domestic food producers under a zero import tariff regime would still be a “disaster” for the sector, Unite has warned. The…Read more…
Time for farming subsidy reform?
Dozens of rich parliamentarians – many of them Tories – own or control farms that brought in millions of pounds in EU subsidies last year, raising conflict of interest issues that could influence the…Read more…
‘Chicken run’ Christmas workers to strike?
We all know that turkeys don’t vote for Christmas – but now Unite ‘poultry workers’ will be voting to spend their Christmas at home with their families. Feathers could…Read more…