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B.C. Federation of Labour and Canadian Farmworkers’ Union to hold public meeting
March 9, 2007
Vancouver—The B.C. Federation of Labour and Canadian Farmworkers’ Union are holding a public meeting tomorrow to discuss the dangerous working conditions facing farmworkers.
"This week's tragic accident that saw at least 3 workers lose their lives highlights the urgent need to take action to improve farmworkers working conditions," said B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair.
Date: Saturday March 10, 2007
Time: 1:00 pm
Place: Ravi Banquet Hall
201–8166 128th Street
Surrey, BC
The meeting is open to members of the public and the media. Provincial Ministers of Labour, Solicitor-General, Transportation and Agriculture, and the President of the WCB have been invited to attend, along with NDP Critics Raj Chouhan and Chuck Puchmayr.
"It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure farmworkers are no longer treated as second-class citizens, and instead are treated with dignity and respect and receive the full rights and protections that all BC workers deserve," Sinclair added. "We know we need to make the legislative and regulatory changes required to ensure farmworkers are fully protected on the job."
"I’m hopeful some good can come from these tragic deaths," said Charan Gill of the Canadian Farmworkers’ Union. "If we don’t keep up the pressure, all we’ll see is more buck passing and no steps to improve safety for farmworkers."
Gill also noted that he will be contacting the federal Minister of Immigration to seek the Department’s full assistance in arranging visas for family members of the accident victims, who are hoping to travel from India to attend funeral services.
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For more information contact: Jessie Uppal 604-430-1421 or 604-220-0739.
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