The NFU is taking legal advice as to whether the Agricultural Wages Board has exceeded its powers in imposing a change to the calculation of holiday pay entitlement.
This was done at a confirmation meeting held today, Friday, rather than during the negotiations proper.
By a vote of the employee and independent members of the AWB, with the employers voting against, the board has imposed a change in the calculation of holiday pay, so that it will be based on gross average pay over the 12 weeks running up to the holiday, including voluntary overtime. The previous calculation, which applies in virtually every other industry, includes compulsory overtime, but not voluntary, given that the latter will vary from worker to worker and from day to day.
Bob Fiddaman, the leader of the employers’ side on the AWB, strongly condemned the decision as both irrational and unreasonable. He said: “It will make it very difficult for employers to calculate what each of their workers is entitled to in holiday pay, it will discriminate between workers on the same farm and it will add significantly to wages’ costs overall.
“Such a significant and controversial proposal should have been dealt with during the substantive negotiations, not slipped in at the last moment.
“On the face of it, the AWB appears to have gone beyond its powers in making this irrational and unjustified decision. We intend to take legal advice at the earliest opportunity.”
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