Canadian Farmworkers Union Collection

: Canadian Farmworkers Union Benefit - Fete au Benefice du Syndicat Canadien des Travailleurs Agricoles; Cultural evening with speaker, Jean Claude Parrot, president Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Silkscreen poster two diferent colour versions produced (orange or blue).

: Raj Chouhan's Speech at the Montreal Support Committee Public Meeting; A general overview of farmworkers unjust working conditions and the activities of the CFU. Issues of immigrants, discrimination and racism.

: Raj Chouhan's Speech at the Ontario Support Committee Public Meeting; A general overview of farmworkers unjust working conditions and the activities of the CFU. Issues of immigrants, discrimination and racism.

: Meeting Today On Chinese Farmworkers and Immigrant Workers; Presenting slideshow 'Taken for Granted' about Farm and Domestic workers

: Jensen Mushroom Farm and CFU - Up-Date on Negotiations; An update on first contract negotiations.

: Canadian Farmworkers Union President Raj Chouhan speaks to farm workers in the Fraser Valley fields.; Canadian Farmworkers Union President Raj Chouhan speaks to Indo-Canadian farm workers in the berry fields of Fraser Valley, BC. Circa early 1980s.

: Farmworkers Need Your Support; A short list of farmworkers' accidents and deaths in BC Fraser Valley, racist attacks in Okanagan, and exclusion from health and safety laws in Ontario. A financial appeal to support the newly formed union. Cover photo shows Pritam Kaur leaving the fields to join the July 12, 1980 Clearbrook march and CFU organizer Sarwan Boal with bullhorn. Cover photo by Peter Battistoni. Inside photos Jim McDowell.

: What Can the CFU Do For You and Your Fellow Workers?; A early 1981 CFU leaflet.

: Jensen Mushroom Farm - You have rights too!; An update and call for a CFU meeting with the workers.

: Ontario - Canadian Farmworkers Union; First proposal and budget to OFL to fund CFU organizers. Background to CFU organizing campaign in Ontario with a review of Ontario provincial labour laws that exclude famworkers. Appendix includes: OFL 1974 Statement on Farm Labour; excerpts from Ontario Labour Relations Act; Ontario Health and Safety Act 1978; Letter to Ontario MPP Robert MacKenzie about farmworkers exclusion from Labour Relations Act; OFL union resolutions; 1980 Media Release for first collective agreement between CFU and Bell Farms, Richmond.

: Nicaragua Benefit Meeting; CFU sponsored benefit with ‘proceeds to Nicaragua’s National Reconstruction’. Guest speaker Francisco Campbell, Institute of Agrarian Reform in Nicaragua. Music by The Victor Jara Chilean Folkloric Group from Seattle.

: Nicaragua Benefit Meeting; CFU sponsored benefit with ‘proceeds to Nicaragua’s National Reconstruction’. Guest speaker Francisco Campbell, Institute of Agrarian Reform in Nicaragua. Music by The Victor Jara Chilean Folkloric Group from Seattle.

: Canadian Farmworkers Union members attend a BC Federation of Labour meeting.

: Country Farm Natural Foods Ltd - Notes to Collective Agreement; This letter was sent to the CFU on the eve of the workers contract vote. On March 20, 1981 ten workers at Country Farm Natural Foods reject the employers offer. Nineteen days later on April 8 the first picket line of unionized farmworkers in Canadian history is staged for a first contract.

: Country Farms Natural Foods Ltd and Canadian Farmworkers Union Local No.1 - Wage Proposals for Collective Agreement; The CFU did not recommend this negotiated first contract to the workers because of the difference between the grower and union of thirteen cents in the hourly rate in the wage package. On March 20, 1981, ten workers at Country Farm Natural Foods reject the employers offer. Nineteen days later on April 8 the first CFU strike begins.

: Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd Contract Negotiations: Monetary Proposals; An update and a call for a CFU meeting with the workers after eight months of contract negotiations. One month later a picket line was set up. Fifteen months later a first contract was signed.

: CFU 1st National Convention Documents; including, The First Year - National Executive Report on the Activities of the CFU April 1980 - April 1981; Agenda; List of Delegates; Financial Report; Resolutions; CFU National Constitution as presented at the Foun; Important CFU Executive Report with summary of 1980 - 1981 activities. Including organizing, certifications, and negotiations; reports on recent deaths in the fields; federal and provincial govt lobbying. Folder also includes: Original letters with fraternal greetings from Cesar Chavez, Pres. UFW, and Jim Kinnaird, Pres. BCFL; Original signed list of elected delegates and observers; Hand written convention minutes including debate to affiliate to the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). BC Organization to Fight Racism (BCOFR) brochure 'Join Hands For Human Rights and Dignity - Ban the Klan'; Petition to oppose US intervention in El Salvador;

: Canadian Farmworkers Union Buttons; A series of CFU buttons. The red rising sun button was the new CFU logo designed by President Raj Chouhan and unveiled at the first convention.

: CFU 1st National Convention Conclusions - 1981 Public Rally; CFU's First National Convention closed with a rally at Moberly School, Vancouver with guest speaker Vancouver and District Labour Council Secretary Treasurer Paddy Neale;

: Canadian Farmworkers Union National Constitution Amendments 1981; Changes voted to the first CFU Constitution by delegates at the First CFU National Convention.

: Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd - Statement and Return of Poll; Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd workers vote 20 affirmative and none negative for CFU representation.

: Bulletin No.2 - Hartals (Strikes); Updates two strikes and activities on the picket line: Country Farm Natural Foods Ltd in Richmond, BC; and Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd in Langley, BC. Also notice on 1981 Union Dues. Double-sided english and punjabi.

: Farmworker 1981 Vol. 04; A tri-lingual newspaper with English front side (5-pages), two-page centerfold in French, and Punjabi front side (5-pages). CFU's new logo is presented on the front page. Headlines: CFU National Convention A Success; CFU Signs First Agreement; Ontario's Farmworkers Now Have A Union; Use And Misuse of Pesticides; Immigrant Women Exploited; The Attack at Osoyoos; Okanagan Farmworkers Attend CFU Public Meeting.

: Hartal! (Strike); Press release announces the first anniversary of the CFU, including; union memmbership at 1,000; 72 hour strike notice at two farms - Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd and Country Farms Natural Foods Ltd; also, certifications at four farms; and, a contract at Bell Farms Ltd.

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Engaging the World