Grey Bruce and Ontario farmers welcoming a decision by the Ontario Government to appeal a court of appeal decision that tossed out a provincial law that effectively prohibited farm workers from unionizing.
No word yet on when the Supreme Court of Canada will hear the appeal.
Ken Forth is with the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and says he is pleased the government is appealing the ruling because allowing the workers or organize could drive a lot of family farmers out of business.
He says not only would farmers have to worry about the weather destroying their crops, a strike by farm workers could have the same impact.
Forth also says farmers live at their workplace and that would mean any striking farm workers would be picketing someone’s home.
He says despite what the unions are saying, migrant workers in Ontario are not being exploited and in fact are well looked after when they come to work on a farm.
Forth says the workers get OHIP coverage as soon as they arrive in Ontario, they are covered by Workman’s Compensation and the housing must be inspected by the Ministry of Health on an annual basis.
He says that Ontario farmers are already facing stiff competition from not only U. S. growers but from farmers in Mexico, China and India.
Forth allowing farm workers to unionize will “absolutely add to the cost of production.”
