British Columbia Federation of Labour

Farmworkers have long struggled in BC to gain the workplace rights and health and safety protections enjoyed by most other BC workers. With organizing and leadership from the Canadian Farmworkers' Union some employers were forced to make improvements to working conditions, for the mostly immigrant, non-English speaking workforce.

In the 1990's following a review of Employment Standards by Mark Thompson, the New Democratic Party government introduced significant changes that for the first time guaranteed BC farmworkers a minimum crop rate, overtime and holiday pay.

However in 2003 these gains were rolled back by the BC Liberal government.  The changes are well documented in a 2004 report examining the working conditions of hand harvesters in the Fraser Valley. 

In response to the March 7, 2007 death of three women farmworkers the Federation released 29 recommendations to protect the lives and improve the working conditions of BC farmworkers.  (To download a copy of the recommendations in Punjabi click here.)  Today the B.C. Fed continues to work with the Farmworkers' Union and community advocates to ensure basic rights like access to fair wages, benefits and health and safety protections are restored.

Watch this video to learn about the history of the B.C. Federation of Labour, including the struggle of BC farmworkers .