AN ODE TO THE SOIL

 

An ode to the soil

uniteLANDWORKER - Summer 2026 by Mark Metcalf 

Thanks to soil, Earth harbours life and it is the only planet known to do so, yet nobody has written about the evolution of soil before.

 

That’s about to radically change because Unite’s own soil scientist Dr Charles Clutterbuck, has written a new book.

 

On the origin of soils is due to be published by 5m Books in the autumn and will mark a lifetime ambition that Charlie first considered over six decades ago.

 

That’s when, over a period of three years, Charlie counted half a million small soil animals largely consisting of springtails, (which Charlie calculates have been around for 400 million years,) mites and nematodes.

 

Oe small group of mites, called oribatids are possibly the most important group of animals on earth, according to socio-biologist E.O. Wilson.

 

Charlie told Landworker, “I was certain someone would write a book on soil evolution, but it has never happened. As I approach very old age I knew I must do it.”

 

Charli has modelled his style of writing on Charles Darwin’s On the origin of species classic book “that ordinary people were able to understand but also ensured learned scientists could learn a lot from.”

 

Charlie is convinced it will also be possible to later produce a children’s book graphically explaining what’s going on beneath their feet and why it is essential to preserve this unique environment                                                                                                                                                                                         Photo - copyright Mark Harvey 

It is only in relatively recent times that soil began to be universally recognised as living matter.

 

Yet, Charlie calculates it first began to perform such a vital role 500m years ago. That’s double the time since insects first began to flourish.

 

“Insects must have come from soil, the skin of the earth and the bringer of all life,” states Charlie.

 

Karl Marx was a big fan of Darwin, whose works gave a natural explanation of how things can change. ‘Ol Karl’ believed the source of all wealth is labour. To which he mixed ‘soil’, discussing this with the then leading agricultural chemist, Liebig, resulting in realising the value - his favourite word - of soil as part of his broader critique on capitalism and its impact on the environment.

 

Sadly, soil’s value appears to have been treated like dirt. Worldwide over 2,000 gigatons of soil (a gigaton = one billion metric tonnes) has been lost in the last 40 years; that took between 400,000 and 4 million years to build. That amounts to a gigaton of carbon a year.

 

But have you heard anybody mention this? There is talk about soil ‘sequestration’ - capturing carbon - and this was forefront at Davos World Economic Forum conference a couple of years back. But they see the answer in ‘carbon trading, now a trillion-pound market.

 

How and where can we raise awareness of this? The answer - as Arthur Fallowfield in BBC’s ‘Beyond our Ken’ comedy series between 1958 and 1964 would have said: “lies in the soil.”

 

photo - copyright Mark Harvey

Farmworkers needed to save the soil and planet

 

Who better to see what is going on, than farmworkers? Why are we not training them, and paying them, to see where and how the degradation and erosion of soil - 3million tons in UK each year - is occurring.

 

Instead of contributing to carbon trading market, why not invest directly in those best placed to see what is going on, so they can suggest ways to improve it.

 

This has been achieved at places such as the Incredible Farm in Todmorden which now grows 1 million tons of food on previously infertile land. It’s a case that is made in On the origin of soils.

 

Charlie is keen to speak about the book at meetings but as a full-time carer it needs to be by zoom. Get in touch with him on charlie@sustainablefood.com

 

 

Charlie’s book follows a film produced on his behalf by Dave Hackney and Mark Metcalf aimed at encouraging debate about food and farming and that could be used by communities or online.

 

The film, JUST GROW TO EAT is a 30-minute journey across north west England explaining developments in Britain’s countryside. Charlie highlights that due to supermarket dominance, food imports continue growing at the expense of the environment, people’s health, real green jobs and rural communities.

 

Charlie also outlines how growing food locally could help people on low incomes by creating more jobs on the land. It would require about £3bn in subsidies, around what Britain once received back from the EU.

 

Here are some of the main points from the film for you to discuss and decide what demands to make within your own sphere of influence.

 

1.     Cut down on Ultra-Processed Foods:.
How can you tell what you’re eating is ultra-processed, and how can you reduce their use? Lobby governments to include in any future plans to reduce obesity.

2.     Increase access to land for communities to grow more local food. Allotments are under more threat-with more building. Are there ways to protect them and promote growing  areas within building developments?

3.     Encourage debate about who owns the land and how we can have more say in what is grown there. E.g. is using 3 million acres of land for grouse shooting really a sustainable use of resources?

4.    Promote the £3bn ‘old EU subsidy’ money so it can be used to help poorer people buy locally produced better food.

5.    Introduce ‘seed’ funding.                                                                                                      To stimulate new ‘green’ economies, linking town and country, thus creating  ‘real’ green jobs, growing more food.

6.    How do we get and keep our best resource, good soil.

7.    Add ‘food and farming’ to debates about greening the economy.

Most industrial strategies talk about energy, cars, steel, batteries, emissions, and targets - but rarely a mention of the greatest carbon-capture and storage units - plants.

 

Find out more

To watch Charlie’s film Just grow to eat visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu3HJtbXvd8

 

You can also subscribe to Charlie’s YouTube channel @CharlieClutterbuck

 

You can but this book On the origin of soils from retailers in the autumn.

 

Charlie is keen to speak about the book at meetings by zoom. Get in touch with him on charlie@sustainablefood.com

 

Visit Incredible Farm, Mankinholes Bank, OL14 6JA https://incrediblefarm.co.uk

 

 

Fishery workers net better deal

 

Fishery workers net better deal

By Mark Metcalf – uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2026

Christopher Feenan is taking over from Jim Leneghan as the Unite rep at the Northern Ireland Fishing  Harbour Authority (NIFHA) and hopes to maintain recent progress in pay and conditions.

NIFHA, a public sector arms-length body funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA),  manages the ports of Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie, which last year had a combined turnover of £27.4m.

Previously non-unionised, NIFHA staff finally won recognition rights with Unite in late 2023. 25+ workers grabbed the chance to become members.

Conflict developed after management failed to keep basic pay in line with inflation or award pay increments that were recommended in a 2019 external grading review. NIFHA had never paid more than the national minimum wage.

Low wages meant it was difficult retaining the skilled staff required to ensure a high standard  service for the private boats that generally go fishing two to three days at a time.  

A fall in fish landed threatened to damage a fragile rural economy that includes fish processing factories, seaside restaurants, chip shops and supermarkets.

Despite NIFHA declaring itself an accredited Living Wage employer which should have been, at least, £12 an hour (from October 2023) NIFHA had never paid more than the national minimum wage.

Jim had been a loyal NIFHA employee for over 20 years. “I felt betrayed considering our skills, experiences and dedication. The authority was making sufficient monies to treat us better. We were on the £11.44 minimum hourly wage.” 

Based at Ardglass, a fishing port for over 2,000 years, Jim became the elected Unite rep for the three ports.

He said, “Taking strike action was considered to help our families. “

In the event strike action was not needed as for the first time ever, UNITE could push NIFHA into negotiating.

The positive outcome secured pay increases for 2024 of 3% and 6% for 2025. Depending on grades, workers received between £2,500 and £3,000 back pay just before Christmas.

Christopher, a deputy harbour master said, “It was a welcome result, we are pretty chuffed.”

“Maternity pay has also improved…back pay will be paid.”

 Recently the restrictions that had previously prevented staff who left before a pay deal was agreed was ended. Back pay will be paid out. It is all thanks to UNITE.

A harbour operative now earns £13.31 hourly. Whilst this remains below the voluntary National Living Wage of £13.45 an hour (from March 2026) it is considerably more than the hourly national minimum wage of £12.71 and translates into round £1,100 a year.  

Unfortunately, Increased wages have not prevented workers looking for work at the 11 Northern Ireland private ports and harbours.

Christoper said, “Some key staff have departed. When the authority tried to recruit recently it was impossible to find staff. It would benefit ourselves and the business if we were better paid.”

 

 

 

LOOK BACK IN ANGER: Hackney Council 1996-1997

 Following my - and other members - appearance at the Undercover Policing Inquiry there has been renewed interest in the work of Hackney Community Defence Association (HCDA) Hackney Trade Union Support Unit and the Colin Roach Centre. (CRC) Organisations that existed from 1987 to 1998. 

Funds have been found by Notes from Below to archive the CRC archives. This is great news. 

This follows the archiving of the HCDA (for which over the last 15-20 years there have been numerous approaches and discussions regarding making a film or documentary or series of podcasts - none of which have come to anything serious) materials. 

Readers can already read many of the most important booklets and magazines on my site at:- https://markwrite.co.uk/

Amongst these materials is the CRC magazine RPM. 

And what follows is a piece of mine written for issue 4 and which takes a look at Hackney Council between 1996 and 1997. 

DURHAM MINERS’ GALA – ‘SHOW OF UNION POWER’

 

DURHAM MINERS’ GALA – ‘SHOW OF UNION POWER’

Unite Live article at:- https://unitelive.org/durham-miners-gala-show-of-union-power/

Photographs courtesy of Mark Harvey and are copyright. 

Banners, bands and crowds. Locally known as ‘The Big Meeting,’ the Durham Miners’ Gala has been marching along on the second Saturday in July since 1871 and despite there being no mines today it seems certain to continue for the foreseeable future as the largest annual labour movement gathering.

Amongst the 100,000 participating in the 140^th gala on Saturday were many Unite members, some for the first time and others who had been drawn back again to enjoy a marvellous social occasion that can provide the inspiration for the forthcoming battles at work and politically.

The large numbers, including many families from ex-mining villages, that packed out and danced along the cobbled streets of Durham City seemed highly unlikely back in 1986 when according to the Sunderland Echo the turnout from amongst the shrinking coalfields was ‘one of the quietest Durham Miners Galas on Record.’   

Only 15,000 were present following the defeat of the 1984-85 miners’ strike by the Thatcher government intent on dealing a fatal blow to the entire British trade union movement in order to usher in the neo-liberal politics initially developed in Chile in 1973 following the crushing of the Allende socialist government there.

That had brought with it resistance amongst workers here. A boycott of military goods that had been ordered by President Pinochet for his ongoing reign of terror was organised by unions that later became part of Unite.

This was unveiled on 25 October 2019 and is of a jet engine subject to a workers’ boycott in Scotland during the 1970s because it was to be used by Chilean dictator General Pinochet’s airforce.

See:-  https://www.south-lanarkshire-college.ac.uk/news/naepasaran/

See:- https://unitelive.org/pinochet-boycott-rolls-royce-unveiled/

Award winning film on the episode

As Britain and Ireland’s biggest union, Unite played a crucial role in supporting the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA) with funds and organising support to help with getting the numbers back on to the streets of Durham.

Smiles, laughter and hope have returned against the magnificent background of the historic Durham Castle and Cathedral, the latter of which was the venue for the blessing of two new replacement banners from Langley Park and Ludworth on Saturday.

The dozens of highly colourful banners are, in themselves, worth making the trip to the North East. They tell a visual history of working class struggle and progress; they are the inheritors of our best traditions. They came blinking out of the sunlight just as unions began to gain precarious legality two centuries ago. During the 1844 Durham and Northumberland miners’ strike there were, at least 71 banners displayed.

Unite’s history dates back to, at least, 1889 and the great London Dock Strike that smashed through the then zero hours contracts of the East End dock owners and established ‘The Dockers’ Tanner.’

Read up about this at:- https://markwrite.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/the-great-dock-strike-of-1889-web-booklet11-23272.pdf   The 1889 Great Dock Strike by Mark Metcalf 

Huge marches were held with mass rows of marching men all carrying their trade union banners festooned with hundreds of slogans. A more basic banner, made by one of strikers’ wives, declared ‘Our husbands are on strike, For us wives it is not honey, And we think it’s right, Not to give the landlords any money.’

When London Dockers across Unite’s legacy unions marched to demand the release of their comrades from Pentonville Prison in July 1972 and ultimately dealt a crushing blow to the Tory government of Edward Heath they did so behind a banner with the simple slogan of “Arise Ye Workers.”

On Saturday, the National Union of Mineworkers Bolton Lodge Banner proclaimed ‘FORWARD TO SOCIALISM’ whilst the one from Murton Lodge, backed by 250 from the small village, declared ‘THE FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS.’

The Banner from Sheffield Women Against Pit Closures was much simpler, listing the dates 1984-85 and 1992-93, the latter a reference to when women organised protest camps outside the remaining pits that were set for closure by the government of John Major.  

To make matters worse and similarly to today with oil and gas workers, there was no plan to replace well paid underground jobs with well-paid overground ones and mining villages were left to rot as Britain’s manufacturing base was further run down.

Hope too went out of the window and its loss has helped far right parties such as Reform establish a dangerous bridgehead amongst Durham’s working class communities. ``

The Unite contingent on the march through Durham to the Racecourse Ground next to the River Wear was led by the barnstorming tunes of the Unite the Union Brass Band, whose dedication and many hours of practice mean their music can help unify members walking for a better future. The packed streets can mean standing around for quite a while and so it is great to be able to listen to such uplifting tunes. Go to https://facebook.com/reel/1004391662419924 to watch some brief highlights of the band on Saturday.

The large Unite North East, Yorkshire and Humberside Region (NEYH) banner was carried proudly and declared ‘The Past We Inherit The Future We Make.’ Other banners included Nissan Unite, Camell Laird Unite and Unite at Leeds City Council (LLC) where as part of national action over pay and conditions there is an ongoing strike amongst staff responsible for repairs and maintenance.

Amongst those LCC strikers present in Durham was Stephanie Crowther, the recently elected first ever female convenor (senior steward) and who originally got involved in Unite when she faced a problem with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that was ill-fitting for her job as plumber.

 “Male and female bodies are different. I work in a male dominated environment and needed to changes things. I started up a campaign and we now have PPE that fits both sexes. It makes me feel included and means I feel comfortable as I am wearing the right clothing.”

Stephanie, who described events on Saturday as “highly uplifting,” marched alongside Clair who has worked for LCC for 25 years and has been a Unite rep for many of them. “The union has helped me through a lot of issues.” One of these was an assault by a member of management and, as a survivor of domestic abuse herself, Clair was delighted to know that Unite has been the key backer of events in the North West that have highlighted the issue through commemorative events honouring Ellen Strange. Stephanie took 30 copies of a new booklet to hand out to the LLC Unite reps.

Anne-Frances Hayes, who sits on the Unite Women’s and NEYH regional committee and is an Unite equality rep at Sheffield University, has been a trade union member since her youth. She has been to the gala on numerous occasions. “It is like the Holy Grail of trade unionism. But whether you are political or not it is a fantastic, safe place to be. There is also lots to do for children.”

Amongst the young persons present was Charlie from West Yorkshire who joined Unite when he began working behind a bar around a year ago. His working conditions are better than many similar locations but he’s also recently had “experiences of workplaces without any rights where I have witnessed all kinds of injuries. I find it comforting that trade unions still exist but I worry the membership is becoming older. There are no real movements amongst workers of my ages to join a union. I know about union history as my great grandads were miners who were Locked Out at Easington Colliery in 1926 during the General Strike.”

Unite has sought to make the current generation aware of events 100 years ago. There have been organised a series of public events. These have been combined with the release of a number of publications and a film under the banner of Unite for a Workers’ Economy that features General Secretary Sharon Graham explaining “the working class needs to mobilise to ensure we get a bigger piece of the pie.” This was shown at the Racecourse on Saturday to tens of thousands listening to speakers that included other other key labour movement figures such as Andrea Egan of UNISON and Joanne Thomas of USDAW plus Labour MP Andy McDonald.

Similar initiatives to those recalling 1926 are now being undertaken to commemorate the 90^th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street this October.

“I am aware that even today no one tells you about these historical events when you are at school,” says former miner and construction worker, Denis Doody, aged 72, who once he left mining became very active in the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) and ended up as the Regional Secretary in the North East. Denis retained his union membership when UCATT later became part of Unite.

 “I was lucky, I was brought up in Fitzwilliam in South Yorkshire and the history of struggle around mining was passed from generation to generation. I was part of that struggle when I was out for the 12 months throughout the 1984-85 miners’ strike. It was the right thing to do as we were fighting for our communities and the futures of young people.”

Denis recalled how Fitzwilliam was almost under occupation by the police as Margaret Thatcher sought to destroy the mining areas. “The fact we have got tens of thousands present today shows she did not succeed and the numbers present shows a spirit of resistance, for which we should remember DMA leaders Dave Hopper and Dave Guy, that can be built upon.”

It was a theme taken up by lan Griffiths, (holding banner on the left in photo above) who has just retired days ago after working 39 years at Nissan, just outside Sunderland. He was a shop steward for many years in a fast-moving environment. “Working conditions are challenging, Nissan want 100% effort. As a Unite rep I wanted to help people and stop them being walked over. The union also helped ensure I have a decent pension so I can enjoy retirement

“I have come to the Gala since I was a kid. It is a show of union power. I am proud to carry the banner. It is a big day for the region and the country.”

 Dedicated to Joseph Charlton, aged 42, and Robert Noble, aged 45, relatives of mine who perished in the Easington Colliery disaster 75 years ago this year. Also in remembrance of Dave Temple who did much to keep the Gala going and who died in September 2025.

SHUTTLES, STEAM & SOOT - A COTTON MILL IN LANCASHIRE photo exhibition by Daniel Meadows at Queen St Mill Museum, Burnley

 

                                                       Well worth a visit 

SHUTTLES, STEAM & SOOT - A COTTON MILL IN LANCASHIRE photo exhibition by Daniel Meadows at Queen St Mill Museum, Burnley 

Daniel Meadows returns to Lancashire. This facsimile exhibition recreates an original touring show from the 1970s, when these extraordinary photographs were taken, documenting working life in Queen Street Mill, Bancroft Shed in Barnoldswick and even atop a 150 foot chimney stack!

Shuttles, Steam and Soot premieres at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum from 8 July 2026 before touring to other Lancashire locations. The photographer visits for an ‘in conversation’ on Saturday 18 July. Daniel Meadows is now widely recognised as a pioneer of twentieth century documentary photography. His archive is now held in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. 

Back in 1975, the young Daniel Meadows began two years as photographer-in residence to Pendle Borough Council, with support from Mid Pennine Arts. Here, he found himself drawn to Queen Street Mill, and especially to Bancroft Shed, the last surviving steam powered cotton weaving mill in Pendle. Daniel began documenting the life of the mills and getting to know the people who worked in them. From weaver and radical organiser Bessie Dickinson, to Bancroft Shed engineer Stanley Graham, flue cleaner Charlie Sutton and steeplejack Peter Tatham, he created a uniquely vivid portrait of Lancashire’s workers and their disappearing trades. 

Shuttles, Steam and Soot was first exhibited in 1978, as part of the Half Moon Photography Workshop’s radical programme of affordable, portable, touring shows. Touring widely from galleries to community centres, from the Shetland Islands to Germany, the exhibition reached a huge audience before it was eventually lost. Fifty years on, Daniel worked with Four Corners in London’s East End to recreate faithfully the original touring exhibition. A rarely seen body of work by a towering figure in British photography, we are thrilled to bring it, and Daniel, back to Lancashire. 

Shuttles, Steam and Soot will continue its journey by returning to the very locations where these unforgettable images were captured. Shuttles, Steam and Soot will be exhibited at Queen Street Mill from Wednesday 8 July to Saturday 29th August. It will then be seen from September at the Bancroft Mill Engine Museum and further Pennine Lancashire locations.

Daniel Meadows returns to Queen Street Mill on Saturday 18 July for an ‘in conversation’ with Laurie Peake MBE, Director of British Textile Biennial. 

Shuttles, Steam and Soot in Lancashire is a Pendle Radicals tour presented by Mid Pennine Arts with support from British Textile Biennial, Queen Street Mill Textile Museum and Lancashire County Council. 

                         The noise of the factory helped invent a new way of communicating 

                                     High temperatures but no high wages for keeping factory cooler 

One of the myths that male workers put around was that women workers were lazy so when Meadows saw the tackler fast asleep at work he could not pass by the chance to take his photo! 

                       

                                                               Done your time in hell 

Charlie Sutton - "Knackered at fifty," he says, After a lifetime of cleaning flues, 

                            he's looking forward to selling-up and retiring.

                                            "When it comes to my time of dyin' 

                                               To the Lord they're goin' to tell:

                                                  'Lord, it's the inside man from Weldone'

                                                     And he'll say: 'Come right into heaven lad.

                                                      They've done your time in hell."