Date: 1974-10-31
Name(s): Guy, Len, Johston, George
Description: At the provincial BC government public hearings tour this submission called for the inclusion of domestic and farm workers under provincial labour laws and employment standard legislations. Mentions an Ontario group called the Migrant Farm Workers Association. Details United Farm Workers of America Union (UFWU) collective bargaining benefits in California. Recounts the May 30, 1974 Chilliwack migrant hopyards farmworker death in a transport van accident in Chilliwack, BC. At hearings growers…
Date: 1980-07-29
Name(s): [Photograher unknown]
Description: National Film Board 16mm film 'A Time to Rise' by Anand Patwarhden and Jim Munro 'documents the formation of the farmworkers union as well as the opposition - sometimes violent, sometimes racist - from the growers and labour contractors.' On July 29, 1980 CFU executive member Pritam Kaur leaves the fields with fellow workers to join the CFU march against the labour contract system. CFU organizer Sarwan Boal rallies with bullhorn. Photo by Peter Battistoni. Postcard circa 1981.
Date: 1980-03-15
Name(s): Gill, Charan
Description: An important early short history of the Farm Workers Organizing Committee (FWOC) by Charan Gill, one of the FWOC founding organizers. Includes a list of early supporters and how the committee was formed on a 'dare' between Raj Chouhan, Charan Gill and Harinder Mahil. Charan Gill's master thesis at the UBC School of Social Work.
Date: 1980-04-07
Description: Announces the founding of the Canadian Farmworkers Union. The first Canadian trade union exclusively for farm workers.
Date: 1980-11-18
Name(s): Bell, Jack, Boal, Sarwan, Chouhan, Raj
Description: CFU Local 1 and Bell Farms Ltd of Richmond, BC sign historic first collective agreement for Canadian farmworkers. This is the first collective agreement signed by a union exclusively representing farmworkers in Canada. The two-year agreement, on the 200 acre cranberry farm, covers 12 regular workers, plus an additional 20 to 30 seasonal workers who were previosly hired through a labour contractor. The new contract stipulates that now seasonal workers will be hired thru the union hiring hall.…
Date: 1981-09-01
Name(s): Beveridge, Karl, Conde, Carole
Description: Toronto artists Carole Conde and Karl Beveridge's poster portraying southern Ontario tobacco pickers announces the new CFU-National slogan 'Good Enough To Work...' that references the lack of workplace legal rights for farm workers across Canada, including the right to organize into a union - one of the many work rights taken for granted by most other workers. In 2011, the slogan is still relevant as Ontario farmworkers still do not have the right to form unions. The colour off-set poster had a…
Date: 1982-08-01
Description: CFU's short summary of activities for six months in 1982. Leaflet headlines include: Workers Compensation Coverage, Cabin Access, First Arbitration at Reimers' Nurseries Ltd, Jensen Mushroom Contract, Unemployment Insurance Section 16.
Date: 1982-07-30
Description: Lists the dates of CFU Local 1 collective agreement certifications, first labour contracts, voluntary agreements and current strikes.
Date: 1983-10-20
Name(s): Boal, Sarwan, Cavanaugh, Judy, Chouhan, Raj, Lane, David
Description: The most important internal report on CFU activities, including organizing history at each farm and self-evaluation. Plus a BC wide overview of farm work both seasonal and year round operations. A survey of CFU-Ontario; an official CFU history; an important report by David Lane called 'An Overview of Organizing Potential 1983', documenting mushroom, nurseries, diary and berry operations; also, Draft Report 01; Financial Statements 1980, 1981, 1982; Plan of Action 1981-1983 Draft 01 Update.
Date: 1984-11-01
Description: A 1980 to 1984 list of union certifications, de-certifications, collective agreements, labour contracts and voluntary contracts.
Date: 1986-04-28
Description: The first Canadian Mayworks labour arts festival catalogue of events held in Toronto. Includes several farmworker themed events: 'Art for Organizing - Canadian Farmwokers Union' an A Space show curated by Craig Berggold: including screening of 'A Time to Rise' by Anand Patwharden and Jim Munro; Screening 'To Pick is Not to Choose' by John Greyson; Screening 'Farmworkers, Zindabd' by Craig Berggold, Alec Charlton and Sukhwant Hundal.
Date: 1986-01-01
Description: Overview of farmworker issues and the federal Unemployment Insurance Act and Regulations. Specifically Section 16 of the Act that requires farmworkers to work seven days with one employer before receiving insurable coverage.
Date: 1980-03-01
Name(s): Sandborn, Calvin
Description: A very important Masters thesis that provided the historical research on the legislative exclusion of immigrants of colour from both provincial and federal labour laws, including employment standards. Details the history of legal discrimination and legislative racism in British Columbia and Canada. Written by Calvin Sandborn, the director of the Fraser Valley Farmworkers Legal Services Project who worked closely with the CFU. Sandborn was also the lawyer for several injured farmworkers who sued…
Date: 1980-06-20
Name(s): Chouhan, Raj
Description: The letter says 515 members have joined to-date and encourages members to sign up their co-workers.
Date: 1982-11-28
Description: CFU cultural program features 'A Girl and A Dream' play by Bharti Nat Kendra; and 'Gaddar Dee Goonj' written by GurSharan Singh; bhangra performed by the Punjab Cultural Association, Richmond. Poster is double-sided in english and punjabi.
