Workers memorial bank holiday claimed

General union Unite is demanding a public holiday to commemorate Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April in its annual pay claim on behalf of 154,000 agricultural workers in England and Wales to the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The union’s national officer for rural and agricultural workers, Ian Waddell, called on the farming industry to do more to improve health and safety. He condemned the fact that agriculture leads a “league table of shame” in having the highest number of deaths per 100,000 workers in UK industry.

“This shocking position shows no sign of improvement and masks an even bigger problem in terms of serious injuries, which are commonplace in farming,” he said.

“Our claim for an extra day’s leave linked to Workers’ Memorial Day is designed to drive home the message that the carnage going on in agriculture is not acceptable and must be tackled. It will be an annual reminder that we must do more to ensure the health and safety of agricultural workers and ensure they return home safe and sound from their work every day.”