This workshop will facilitate early conversations on “supply chain solidarity” and explore how we might connect different movements across the food supply chain. We will focus on land work as a case study but hope the workshop will be useful to anyone working and/or organising within the food system.

Room 102, Clore Management Building, Torrington Sqaure, WC1E 7JL

Session 1: Plenary presentations and discussion

11am-12.50

This session will examine the potential for connecting different struggles within a food labour movement by focusing on land work. The session will include presentations from Focus on Labour Exploitation and Solidarity Across Land Trades, followed by a Q&A and open discussion.

Presentation 1

Migrant workers are the bedrock of UK’s horticulture system, with around 30-40,000 people coming to the UK each year on the Seasonal Worker Scheme. Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) have been conducting the largest independent research study of this scheme to date. In this session, they will present findings on how the structural makeup of the visa scheme and employment system consistently put workers at risk of exploitation.

Presentation 2

Solidarity Across Land Trades is a grassroots, emerging trade union organising for fairer conditions, solidarity and justice for workers across all land-related trades. They will be sharing their journey with us from collective desire and necessity for better working conditions in the sector to established branch of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, and talking about some of the key outputs they have been working on so far, aiming to highlight and address some of the fundamental issues land workers face in the sector.

Lunch

12.50-13.30

Lunch will be provided by a local cafe, please email l.toffolo@gre.ac.uk with any dietary requirements.

Session 2: Workshop

13.30-15.00

This workshop will explore why connecting progressive movements across the food supply chain is useful, what barriers we might face, and potential strategies and ways to move forward. It will be an interactive session involving break-out groups and collective brainstorming.

What next? Plenary discussion and wrap-up

15.00-16.00

This open discussion will be solution-focused and an opportunity to share ideas for moving forward. Based on the discussion's outcome, we will aim to conclude with some actions for moving forward and working collaboratively in future.

Connecting struggles across the food supply chain