A deal reached at a pre-trial hearing in Walkerton in connection with the death of two migrant farm workers, isn’t sitting well with Stan Raper.
He is the National Co-ordinator of the United Food and Commercial workers, and Raper says the Ministry of Labour simply wants the case to go away.
In September of 2010, — 44 year old Paul Roach and 36 year old Ralston White both of Jamaica, died while working at Filsinger’s Organic Foods and Orchards near Ayton.
They were attempting to fix a pump for the vinegar vat when they were overcome by the fumes.
Raper says the Union has been pushing for years, to get legislation covering workers in confined spaces on farms, but the Ministry of Labour has ignored the calls.
He also wanted a Coroners inquiry into the deaths near Ayton but that was denied.
Raper says he was hoping to hear details of the deaths at the trial in Walkerton and put the spotlight on the safety of farm workers, but that was short-circuited by the pre-trial agreement.
Brandon Kenneth Weber, a supervisor at Filsingers pleaded guilty to one of 8 charges and was given a fine of 22,500 dollars.
All other charges against Weber and the three owners of the farm, Debra Ann Becker, Shaun Ronald Becker, and Cory Richard Becker were dropped.
The trial was scheduled for three days in Walkerton beginning Wednesday, but it was cancelled following the settlement Tuesday.
