Land girls marching to Caxton hall meeting to plead for equal pay for men and women

P FW PH2/W52/2

1946 [date taken]

P.A.-Reuter Photos Ltd, Farmers Weekly

London

1 photographic print; b&w

type: PRINT, dimensions: 25.8 x 20.3 cm

English

agricultural employment, Women's Land Army, marches, Equality, Greater London [region], Women's Land Army- WWII, Graphic Materials

<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>12. &lt;B&gt;Pay and Conditions&lt;/B&gt;&lt;P&gt; Land Girls were given a regular wage of 28 shillings, (£1.40p), per week and sick pay with paid holiday leave. Farmers and other agricultural labourers resented this. Farm wages in March 1940 averaged 38 shillings, (£1.90p), per week. The compulsory working week for the Land Girl was 50 hours in summer and 48 in winter. There was little chance for time off, with a weekly half-holiday, and an occasional long weekend. The WLA were granted public holidays with a week's annual holiday with pay. These conditions had to fit in with the arrangements on the farms though, and it was not always possible to take time off when wished. The WLA organised a pool of land girls to work relief shifts. In 1940-1 the WLA had no holiday, in 1942 they had 3 days rising to 1 week in 1943. The greatest problems arose from difficult farmers refusing to pay the wages in full. It was the job of the County Secretary to sort the problem. In some cases the farmer was blacklisted.&lt;P&gt;In this photograph the Land Girls have come to London to demonstrate against the inequalities between the WLA and the Women's Forces. In the latter part of the war coupons for civilian clothing were withdrawn, and the WLA were not allowed to retain their uniform nor receive a gratuity after demobilisation. Furthermore, the WLA did not receive any recognition for its contribution to the war, and it was not until November 1991 that the WLA was named as part of the war effort for the first time, before Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll.&lt;P&gt;P FW PH2/W52/2</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>

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