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Title: Jensen Mushroom Farm signing a first contract, July 30, 1982.
Description: Mr. Jensen (left) and Raj Chouhan (center) sign a first contract. It took two years, since the CFU’s first certification and after a 15-month bitter strike, before the CFU Local No.1 and Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd. signed a first contract.
Date: 1982-07-30

Title: Hoss Farm Letter for Certification
Description: Advising employer that union has applied for certification. Mentions violation of the provincial labour code for firing new union members and complaint laid.
Date: 1984-05-27

Title: The First Four Months, April to August 1980: A Summary of the Activities of the Canadian Farmworkers Union
Description: One of the first internal CFU reports reviewing the FWOC and events leading up to the founding of the CFU organizing drives; certifications at Jensen Mushroom Farm, Country Farm Natural Foods Ltd and Bell Farms Ltd; Opposing forces, such as CPC (ML) and their front groups 'East Indian Defense Committee' and 'Farm Workers Defense Committee';
Show moreOne of the first internal CFU reports reviewing the FWOC and events leading up to the founding of the CFU organizing drives; certifications at Jensen Mushroom Farm, Country Farm Natural Foods Ltd and Bell Farms Ltd; Opposing forces, such as CPC (ML) and their front groups 'East Indian Defense Committee' and 'Farm Workers Defense Committee'; Government Lobby campaigns; Administration and Resources; Conclusions.
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Date: 1980-09-01

Title: Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd Contract Negotiations: Monetary Proposals
Description: 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.
Date: 1981-03-23

Title: Mushroom Boycott - To All Members of the Farmworkers Support Committee
Description: A call to discuss a consumers mushroom boycott after union members at Hoss Farm union members are fired.
Date: 1985-10-07

Title: Country Farms Natural Foods : We Are Here Because…
Description: 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.
Date: 1981-04-18

Title: Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd - Statement and Return of Poll
Description: Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd workers vote 20 affirmative and none negative for CFU representation.
Date: 1981-03-31

Title: 1982 Leaflet - Canadian Farmworkers Union Victories
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: 1982-08-01

Title: Jensen Mushroom Farm signing a first contract, July 30, 1982.
Description: Mr. Jensen (left) and Raj Chouhan (center) sign a first contract. It took two years, since the CFU’s first certification and after a 15-month bitter strike, before the CFU Local No.1 and Jensen Mushroom Farm Ltd. signed a first contract.
Date: 1982-07-30

Title: Hoss Farm mushroom workers' picket line in South Langley, BC. Viewing Craig Berggold's photos on their picket line.
Description: On May 27, 1984, eleven women mushroom pickers were fired at Hoss Farm; five for signing Canadian Farmworkers’ Union cards and six more who then approached the Indo-Canadian grower about his actions. CFU photographer Craig Berggold displays his photos about health & safety working conditions on a picket line outside the worksite. Darshan Dhillon
Show moreOn May 27, 1984, eleven women mushroom pickers were fired at Hoss Farm; five for signing Canadian Farmworkers’ Union cards and six more who then approached the Indo-Canadian grower about his actions. CFU photographer Craig Berggold displays his photos about health & safety working conditions on a picket line outside the worksite. Darshan Dhillon (far left) with picket on neck, also seen as actor in center photo. At Hoss Farm the women had had enough of the poor working conditions that were typical for many mushroom workers in the Fraser Valley. This included working up to 15 hours per day with no overtime, being paid at piece rates amounting to $2-$3 an hour (far less than minimum wage), no bathrooms or cleaning facilities, and dismissal for union activity.
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Date: 1984-05-29

Title: Jensen Mushroom Farm - CFU strike trailer. Fraser Valley, BC, 1981. I wont negotiate!! CFU wont go away till yo do!!!
Description: 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
Show moreOne 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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Date: 1981-04-14

Title: Jensen Mushroom Farm - CFU strike trailer. Fraser Valley, BC, 1981. On Strike for a Living Wage.
Description: 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
Show moreOne 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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Date: 1981-04-14

Title: McKim Farm workers, the Sidhu family, at the Robeson Square Law Courts, Vancouver. BC Law Union lawyer Stuart Rush, on behalf of the Farm Workers Organizing Committee, represents the Sidhu's family of farmworkers who had been cheated out of wages. Circa 1980.
Description: From left to right: Raj Chouhan, Baldev S. Poonia, Carolyn McCool (lawyers assistant) and BC Law Union lawyer Stuart Rush and members of the Sidhu Family. In 1978, the Sidhu family worked a full season at a farm owned by Doug McKim in Richmond. However, Mr. McKim did not pay the full wages he owed to the family. He owed the family approximately $25
Show moreFrom left to right: Raj Chouhan, Baldev S. Poonia, Carolyn McCool (lawyers assistant) and BC Law Union lawyer Stuart Rush and members of the Sidhu Family. In 1978, the Sidhu family worked a full season at a farm owned by Doug McKim in Richmond. However, Mr. McKim did not pay the full wages he owed to the family. He owed the family approximately $25,000. The FWOC represented the Sidhu family and took this case all the way to the BC Supreme Court. Although the FWOC won the case, the Court ordered Mr. McKim to pay only $14,000 to the workers.
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Date: 1980-01-01

Title: Country Farm Natural Foods strike. Sarwan Boal on secondary picket at Naam Restaurant, West 4th Ave, Vancouver, April 18, 1981.
Description: 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
Show moreCountry 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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Date: 1981-04-18

Title: 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.
Description: 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.
Show moreCountry 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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Date: 1981-04-08

Title: Driediger Farms, Langley, CFU demonstration. We want $3 per flat.
Description: CFU demonstration to protest the grower’s withdrawal from negotiations. Driediger Farms negotiated with the Canadian Farmworkers Union for well over two months. Terms of the collective agreement between the Union and the employer were finalized on April 13, 1980. The grower backed out at the last minute saying he is a ‘Free Enterpriser’ and doesn't
Show moreCFU demonstration to protest the grower’s withdrawal from negotiations. Driediger Farms negotiated with the Canadian Farmworkers Union for well over two months. Terms of the collective agreement between the Union and the employer were finalized on April 13, 1980. The grower backed out at the last minute saying he is a ‘Free Enterpriser’ and doesn't believe in unions. CFU demands include Minimum of $4.00 per hour, and Minimum of $3.00 per flat (for a 16 lb. flat).
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Date: 1980-06-29

Title: Fraser Valley Mushroom Growers’ Co-operative secondary picket line in Langley, BC. You may fire us but you will never keep us down.
Description: Vancouver Sath writers Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal attend secondary picket line.
Date: 1984-05-31

Title: Driediger Farms, Langley, CFU demonstration. CFU Secretary Treasurer Charan Gill with bulhorn. We want $3 per flat.
Description: CFU demonstration to protest the grower’s withdrawal from negotiations. Driediger Farms negotiated with the Canadian Farmworkers Union for well over two months. Terms of the collective agreement between the Union and the employer were finalized on April 13, 1980. The grower backed out at the last minute saying he is a ‘Free Enterpriser’ and doesn't
Show moreCFU demonstration to protest the grower’s withdrawal from negotiations. Driediger Farms negotiated with the Canadian Farmworkers Union for well over two months. Terms of the collective agreement between the Union and the employer were finalized on April 13, 1980. The grower backed out at the last minute saying he is a ‘Free Enterpriser’ and doesn't believe in unions. CFU demands include Minimum of $4.00 per hour, and Minimum of $3.00 per flat (for a 16 lb. flat).
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Date: 1980-06-29

Title: Driediger Farms, Langley, CFU demonstration. Farmworkers Struggle Zindabad.
Description: CFU demonstration to protest the grower’s withdrawal from negotiations. Driediger Farms negotiated with the Canadian Farmworkers Union for well over two months. Terms of the collective agreement between the Union and the employer were finalized on April 13, 1980. The grower backed out at the last minute saying he is a ‘Free Enterpriser’ and doesn't
Show moreCFU demonstration to protest the grower’s withdrawal from negotiations. Driediger Farms negotiated with the Canadian Farmworkers Union for well over two months. Terms of the collective agreement between the Union and the employer were finalized on April 13, 1980. The grower backed out at the last minute saying he is a ‘Free Enterpriser’ and doesn't believe in unions. CFU demands include Minimum of $4.00 per hour, and Minimum of $3.00 per flat (for a 16 lb. flat).
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Date: 1980-06-29

Title: Fraser Valley Mushroom Growers’ Co-operative secondary picket line in Langley, BC. Retail Wholesale Workers Union members honouring the CFU picket line, in front of the mushroom wharehouses they work in.
Description: Retail Wholesale Workers Union members honouring the CFU picket line in front of the wharehouses they work in. Sarwan Boal (far left), David Jackson ( 2nd left), Craig Berggold (far right).
Date: 1984-05-31

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