BCFGA needs to rethink approach

Dear editor: Re: BCFGA warns of labour activists in the Okanagan, Herald, A1, May 14

I read with a great deal of alarm the article in which the BCFGA is warning farmers about supposed radical labour activists who may attempt to speak to Mexican farm workers in “an attempt to disrupt your business.”

Putting a label such as this on people who may be trying to help Mexican farm workers says more about the dubious intentions of the administration of the BCFGA than it does about so called “radical labour activists.”

The article mentions there has been “instances recently of Okanagan farmers not providing sufficiently high-quality accommodation for the workers.”

Translated this means workers are put in substandard accommodation and we cannot have these “radical activists” coming onto the farm and maybe helping these workers understand what work conditions under B.C. labour laws they are entitled to.

But it is the opposition of the BCFGA to the workers having an open visa so they are not indentured to one orchardists but would allowed workers to go ìin search of better pay” that leaves me gasping. I thought one of the only bargaining chips workers have is their willingness and ability to go to where they can receive better wages and better work conditions.

To someone how link this to hockey players being stuck with one club so misses the point as this is exactly what professional sports people do: Go and play (work) where they can get the highest price for their services.

So, BCFGA, you definitely need to rethink your approach and attitude on this matter Bob McAtamney Cawston