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Canadian Farmworkers Union Collection
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Country Farm Natural Foods strike in Richmond, BC, April 8, 1981. Country Farm Natural Foods Ltd strike is the first picket line of the Canadian Farmworkers Union.
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Country Farm Natural Foods Ltd strike is the first picket line of the Canadian Farmworkers Union. CFU executive member Jawala Singh Grewal (far left) stands on the line with women workers in Richmond, BC. ‘The grower, an alfalfa sprout producer in Richmond employed approximately 10 workers before the strike. The negotiations started in August 1980. A proposal was put to the crew on March 20 and was unanimously rejected. On April 8, 1981, the CFU set up its first picket line at the Richmond farm. On April 18, 1981. CFU attempted to have a meeting with the employer but he refused to meet. In order to put pressure on the grower to negotiate with the union, the CFU put up a picket line at the Naam Restaurant in Vancouver which were owned by the same employer. Picketing at the farm was 24 hours a day and at the NAAM 12 hours a day.
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Country Farms Natural Foods : Why we are asking you not to cross our picket line…
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A series of leaflets from the first months on the CFU's first strike line at a secondary picket at the Naam Restaurant. 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 after eight months of failed negotiations.
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An Evening with Canadian Farmworkers : Fundraising Dinner and Dance
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400 supporters attended the CFU's First Anniversary ‘Fund Raising Dinner and Dance’ with guest speaker UFW President Cesar Chavez. The poster photo is 1980, June 29 at Driediger Farms, Langley and shows Raj Chouhan speaking to farmworkers at demonstration to protest the grower’s withdrawal from negotiations.
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Jensen Mushroom Farm - CFU strike trailer. Fraser Valley, BC, 1981. I wont negotiate!! CFU wont go away till yo do!!!
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One week after CFU's first strike began at Country Farm Natural Foods in Richmond, the CFU’s second strike started at Jensen Mushroom Farms Ltd. in the Fraser Valley. Nine months earlier, the CFU had been certified to represent the workers on July 18, 1980. Most of the workers had not had a wage increase since October 1978. After many months of maintaining a 24 hour picket line, Jensen completely stopped production and put his farm for sale. "Initially Jensen maintained production as 10 workers scabbed. The line was subjected to various forms of violence from name calling, to car pounding, to a physical scuffle, to telephone wires being cut, to trucks being chased at high speeds, to an attempt to burn down the trailer while a picketer was sleeping inside."
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Jensen Mushroom Farm - CFU strike trailer. Fraser Valley, BC, 1981. On Strike for a Living Wage.
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One week after CFU's first strike began at Country Farm Natural Foods in Richmond, the CFU’s second strike started at Jensen Mushroom Farms Ltd. in the Fraser Valley. Nine months earlier, the CFU had been certified to represent the workers on July 18, 1980. Most of the workers had not had a wage increase since October 1978. After many months of maintaining a 24 hour picket line, Jensen completely stopped production and put his farm for sale. "Initially Jensen maintained production as 10 workers scabbed. The line was subjected to various forms of violence from name calling, to car pounding, to a physical scuffle, to telephone wires being cut, to trucks being chased at high speeds, to an attempt to burn down the trailer while a picketer was sleeping inside."
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Jensen Mushroom Farm : Statement of Sandi Roy
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CFU Ontario rep makes a formal statement of assault while on the Jensen Mushroom Farms picket line in the Fraser Valley, BC. She witnesses CFU President Raj Chouhan being physically assaulted by the growers family.
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Jensen Mushroom Farm : Why We Are Picketing…
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CFU's second strike started at Jensen's Mushroom Farm after a eight months of negotiations failed to achieve a first contract. A contract was signed July 30, 1982. The farm resumed operations in September. Problems with the unit commenced immediately. After a 15 month strike 7 union supporters and 7 non-union advocates returned to the job.
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Country Farms Natural Foods : We Are Here Because…
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One of CFU's first strike leaflets. In Kitsilano, Vancouver, Country Farm Natural Food striking workers and supporters set-up a secondary picket line at the Naam Restaurant. This health food restaurant is owned by the same employer.
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Country Farm Natural Foods strike. Sarwan Boal on secondary picket at Naam Restaurant, West 4th Ave, Vancouver, April 18, 1981.
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Country Farm Natural Foods Ltd strike secondary picket line with CFU organizer Sarwan Boal. ‘The grower, an alfalfa sprout producer in Richmond employed approximately 10 workers before the strike. The negotiations started in August 1980. A proposal was put to the crew on March 20 and was unanimously rejected. On April 8, 1981 the CFU set up its first picket line at the Richmond farm. On April 18, CFU attempted to have a meeting with the employer but he refused to meet. In order to put pressure on the grower to negotiate with the union, the CFU put up a picket line at the Naam Restaurant in Vancouver which were owned by the same employer. Picketing at the farm was 24 hours a day and at the NAAM 12 hours a day.
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Pannu Berry Farm. CFU workers weigh picked strawberries at the scales in the fields.
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Photo is circa summer of 1981 or 1982. In 1981, Pannu Farms is one of two small berry growers with voluntary CFU contracts for seasonal workers. At Pannu Farms, 50 CFU members were dispatched. A simple three page agreement was signed effective for one year. The rate was $2.75 per flat (for berries). The grower provided transportation. The contract was renewed in 1982. Many complaints were directed. The grower did not honour the contract. He had agreed to top up wages to $29.20 per day and to pay gas money for coming direct to the farm and did not do either. Also, accusations that scales were not accurate. The farmworkers response was mixed, on one hand they walked out when he insisted that they pick in a poor field. On the other hand, they agreed that the Union had to show a commitment to fulfill a contract so they put up with some of the contract violations. At the end of the season CFU laid a complaint on behalf of all the workers with the Employment Standards Branch as Pannu refused to pay holiday pay. In 1983, no contract was signed.
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Pannu Berry Farm. CFU women workers take a break from picking strawberries in the Fraser Valley.
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Photo is circa summer of 1981 or 1982. In 1981, Pannu Farms is one of two small berry growers with voluntary CFU contracts for seasonal workers. At Pannu Farms, 50 CFU members were dispatched. A simple three page agreement was signed effective for one year. The rate was $2.75 per flat (for berries). The grower provided transportation. The contract was renewed in 1982. Many complaints were directed. The grower did not honour the contract. He had agreed to top up wages to $29.20 per day and to pay gas money for coming direct to the farm and did not do either. Also, accusations that scales were not accurate. The farmworkers response was mixed, on one hand they walked out when he insisted that they pick in a poor field. On the other hand, they agreed that the Union had to show a commitment to fulfill a contract so they put up with some of the contract violations. At the end of the season CFU laid a complaint on behalf of all the workers with the Employment Standards Branch as Pannu refused to pay holiday pay. In 1983, no contract was signed.
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