Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Date set for ag worker labour law hearing

Thursday, June 25, 2009

© AgMedia Inc.

by SUSAN MANN

The Supreme Court of Canada has tentatively set Dec. 17 as the date to hear arguments concerning Ontario farm workers’ rights to bargain collectively.

Stan Raper, spokesman for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Canada, says they’re happy the court has agreed to accept submissions on two questions. The Union will argue Ontario’s Agricultural Employees Protection Act is unconstitutional because it prohibits collective bargaining and that impinges on farm workers’ rights to associate.

Raper says a Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2007 involving hospital workers in British Columbia made it clear that the ‘freedom to associate’ section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes the ability to bargain collectively.

The other question centres on people’s right to equality under the law. “No individual should be treated differently based on a number of factors,” such as sex or gender, he notes. The Union is arguing this should also include occupation and Ontario’s farm workers shouldn’t be excluded from the province’s Labour Relations Act just because of their job.

Ontario’s Attorney General is defending the Act. Sherry Persaud, spokesperson for Ontario Agriculture Minister Leona Drombowsky, says since the case is before the courts “it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

As an intervener, the agricultural industry’s Labour Issues Coordinating Committee will be arguing “the same old thing about the uniqueness of agriculture and all that kind of stuff,” says chair Ken Forth. “It’s the same old story from 20 years ago. Nothing’s changed.”

Raper says the hearing is expected to take one day and it’ll be two to six months for the decision to be released. “We anticipate a strong ruling with some direct orders for (Premier Dalton McGuinty) to get off the pot and move this piece finally.”

Ultimately the Union wants Ontario to include farm workers in the provincial Labour Relations Act with the right to bargain collectively and strike. It doesn’t want another separate labour act just for farm workers. BF
 

Current Issue

November 2024

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Massey Ferguson introduces six new tractors

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Massey Ferguson has debuted its new of tractors, what the company calls a line-up of versatile and powerful machines designed to meet the needs of modern farmers. This series includes six new models, each tailored to different farming requirements and preferences. MF... Read this article online

Ontario Pork Congress Annual Meeting report

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

The Ontario Pork Congress was held on October 22, 2024, at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, with over 35 people attending. At the event, the association revealed the winner of its —Tara Terpstra, a Huron County pork producer who is currently Chair of Ontario Pork. The... Read this article online

Cdn. farmers can win a chance to brew their own beer

Monday, October 28, 2024

A contest is giving Canadian farmers a chance to brew their own beer. Bayer and Origin Brewing & Malting Co., out of Strathmore, Alta., have teamed up for the FieldBrew contest. The contest is open to farmers from B.C. to Ontario who are at least 19 years old. Participants can earn... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2024 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top