"Burnt Out, Overworked & Underpaid"
A brand new workers' inquiry conducted by SALT has found that agroecological “trainees” or “interns” (really, workers) are only being paid £1.41 per hour.
A brand new report released by the recently formed trade union, Solidarity Across Land Trades (SALT), has found that agroecological “trainees” or “interns” (really, workers) are only being paid £1.41 per hour on average. A shocking but, let’s be honest, open secret within the world of agroecology, and very often illegal. We all know some farms that are doing it, some even brag about it on their blogs or social media, but for too long the agroecological sector has turned a blind eye. It’s time for a reckoning and of those of us involved to hold our organisations to account. Too many are currently complicit in this ongoing practice. If workers don’t matter to our movement, then frankly our movement doesn’t matter.
And if you’re in any doubt that business owners feel threatened about this: there were business owners who went up to SALT members at the Oxford Real Farming Conference last week, and said something along the lines of, “I hope you fail”. Clearly, certain class interests are being threatened. And it’s about time.
It’s not just the shocking pay that SALT’s workers’ inquiry evidences, but the poor working and living conditions. For example, 72% of those surveyed had witnessed or experienced discrimination including racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, ageism classism or transphobia. Or people being forced to live in mouldy caravans. Again in some ways none of this is news to anyone really but this document provides vitally important evidence and arguments against it.
Importantly, the report also reiterates that using the legal loophole of the education exemption should not be seen as tolerable. The model being used by, for example, the Apricot Centre, will only further normalise and expand the underpayment of workers within the sector. This time it will likely be legal but who can argue this is ethical or sustainable? As ever within the sector it favours those from wealthier backgrounds who can afford to work for such little money. SALT’s calculation puts this at around £2.50 per hour, plus the accommodation allowance on top of this, which brings it up to £4.83 per hour—still less than half the minimum wage. As ever those who benefit are those who own the means of production—the business owners.
The research also shows that agroecological workers—those who are not mystified as “trainees” or “interns”—are also being paid less than the minimum wage at just £9.46 per hour when unpaid overtime is included. There is also widespread use of “bogus self-employment”.
The report covers all the various aspects and I highly recommend that you read it, and more importantly we must all act on it.
“The prevalence of unpaid and underpaid work is of real concern to SALT organisers. If businesses are not able to pay their staff, then honest and frank conversations must be had about the sustainability of these enterprises. We cannot fight for a fair food and land system whilst relying on underpaid and exploited workers.
Drawing on research and testimonies from workers, we call on the sector to centre marginalised voices, build workers’ power and install robust accountability mechanisms to work towards achieving equity and genuine change in our workplaces.”
Read it here: https://saltunion.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/burnt-out-overworked-and-underpaid-salt-report.pdf