Composition of the Board
The Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland is a statutory body which meets three times a year, to determine the minimum gross wages payable to agricultural workers and to set some conditions for holiday and sick pay entitlement.
The Board is made up of 1 Chairperson, 2 Independent Members, 6 Members from Unite to represent employees and 6 Members from the Ulster Farmers' Union to represent employers.
The Chair and two Independent Members are appointed by the Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. These Independent Members can be appointed for a maximum of two terms, with each term lasting for a three year period. The Ulster Farmers Union and Unite appoint their own representatives to the Board.
| Name | Positon | Where they come from | Date of Initial Appointment | Expiry of current appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Nesbitt | Chair | Co. Antrim | 29 January 2024 | 28 January 2027 |
| Gerard Laverty | Independent | Co. Antrim | 29 January 2024 | 28 January 2027 |
| Kevin McCabe | Independent | Co. Antrim | 29 January 2024 | 28 January 2027 |
| Ms Joanne McWilliams | Unite Lead | Co. Armagh | ||
| Mr Ronnie Corbett | Unite | Co. Tyrone | ||
| Mr Brian Hewitt | Unite | Co. Down | ||
| Mr Seamus Tohill | Unite | Co. Down | ||
| Mr Craig Lappin | Unite | Co. Antrim | ||
| Mr Keith Reynolds | Unite | Co. Down | ||
| Mr Wilbert Mayne | UFU | Co. Tyrone | ||
| Mr Crosby Cleland | UFU | Co. Down | ||
| Mr Thomas Douglas | UFU | Co. Tyrone | ||
| Mr Chris Osborne | UFU | Co. Down | ||
| Mr Roy Lyttle | UFU | Co. Down | ||
| Mr Robert McCloy | UFU Lead | Co. Londonderry |
Remuneration
All Members of the Board can claim for attendance at meetings, travel to meetings and child or dependent care, as follows:
Attendance
| Position | Rate per meeting |
|---|---|
| Chair | £294.00 |
| Independent Member | £152.00 |
| Ordinary Member | £33.02 |
Travel Expenses
Members are entitled to claim reimbursement of travel expenses for attendance at Board meetings at the Northern Ireland Civil Service mileage rates.
Child & Dependant Care
Members are entitled to claim reimbursement of expenses due to child or dependent care for attendance at Board meetings at a reasonable rate.
Information for Agricultural workers
- AWB current terms and conditions of employments, wages, etc
- AWB - Agricultural rates of pay, orders and reports
- Contact details for the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) and how to make a complaint