Support farms that treat workers fairly and safely

(And yes, some of it I copied from my SPUD letter. Is that a crime?)

Dear Honorable Members of the Legislative Assembly,

In the wake of last week's tragic bus crash in Abbotsford, I am writing to encourage you to help ensure the safety and fair treatment of those who work on BC farms. For me, the crash highlighted the unfair working conditions for these British Columbians, and the need for more direct oversight of the agriculture industry. I urge you to protect these vulnerable workers by providing such oversight.

I was pleased to see the government announce spot checks for vehicles transporting farm workers. Now, I would like to see this government go farther, by re-instating the inter-agency teams that ensure regulations are followed on the job as well as on the road. I would also welcome changes to the Employment Standards Act to grant agricultural workers the same rights as other British Columbians, including an hourly minimum wage.

I recognize that agriculture is a very competitive industry and that some BC farms are struggling to survive. However, survival should not come at the expense of worker rights or safety. As a consumer of BC produce, I would be willing to pay a premium for the assurance that food was harvested fairly, much like many consumers who pay more for "Fair Trade' or "organic" products. I would like to see BC's agriculture industry become a leader in ethical business practices.

Thank you for your attention to this. I am confident that you share my concerns for British Columbians health and safety and I look forward to your response.

Well, I heard back from a nice man named Paul at SPUD. He (like me) is not sure where to start in a quest to ensure SPUD's supplliers are good employers. He said his manager was looking into it.

In the meantime, I did a bit of digging on the internet and found that the BC Federation of Labour has been doing some work on this issue. They have just sent sent some very comprehensive recommendations on this to BC Labour MInister Olga Ilich.

Like most people in Vancouver, I was shocked and saddenned by the fatal bus crash that killed 3 farm workers last week. For many, the crash highlighted the unsafe and exploitative conditions for farm workers in BC. This week, the government re-instated spot checks for vans transporting farm workers, which is a step (back!) in the right direction. I was wondering if as a consumer of local produce, I could do anything further.