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Letters

Calvin Sandborn, Farmworkers’ Legal
Services Project, writes: Sixty-one year
ago, Parks Williams, a commissioner of
the Workers’ Compensation Board of
British Columbia, stated that the work

ds in agriculture were equal to those
of logging. Williams went on to say that
there was no rational reason that farm-
workers should be unprotected by
Workers’ Compensation.

Sixty-one year have passed since that
Statement was made. Two Royal Com-
missions have recommended equal WCB
protection for farmworkers. An inquest
jury implored the WCB to provide health
and safety regulations for farmworkers.
The B.C. Medical Association has
recommended that pesticide regulations
be enforced for farmworkers. The Con-
sumers’. Association of Canada has
recommended the same thing. All respon-
sible editorial opinion in the province has
supported this proposition.

In 1983, a tripartite committee of the
WCB did extensive research and consulta-
tion, and produced workable agricultural
regulations. An American expert has been
quoted as saying that the proposed pesti-
cide regulations that came out of the tri-
partite committee were the best pesticide
regulations he had ever seen.

Those proposed regulations were sche-
duled to be heard at WCB public hearings
on Jan. 16, 1984. However, the govern-
ment has now forced the Workers’ Com-
pensation Board to cancel public hearings

WCB moves backwards from 1922

on farm regulations. As a result, the public
is being denied the right to hear the B.C.
Medical Association recommendations on
regulations. It is significant that the
BCMA had planned to commission pesti-
cide experts to come to these public hear-
ings and testify about the need for
farmworker regulations. Now such experts
shall not be heard.

Because the hearings have been can-
celled, the Consumers’ Association of
Canada cannot come and express its con-
cern about the pesticide residues that
appear in our food as a result of untrained
people spraying pesticides. Because these
hearings have been cancelled, the family of
Jarnail Deol, the farmworker who died
from pesticide poisoning, will not be able
to come and tell the WCB that they do not
want their son’s death to be in vain.
Because the public hearings have been
cancelled, Basta Grewal cannot appear
and show his scars, and describe how a $15
welding job could have avoided the acci-
dent that unalterably changed his life.

At the tripartite committee level, the
Canadian Farmworkers Union won effi-
cient and reasonable regulations. The
committee created those regulations on
the basis of the merit of the regulations
themselves. There were no political power-
plays involved, and employers and farm-
workers alike were represented. However,
having failed to achieve their way in the
committee, the farm employers went to

‘public hearings on farm regulations.

their friends in the provincial government
who:

© Suspended the application of safety
regulations on the farms;

e Even more startling, suspended the

It is significant to note that pressure was
exerted to stop the hearings on farm regu-
lations. It is essential, from the farm
employers point of view, to stop all public
discussion of this matter. This is essential
because the need for farm regulations is so
self-evident, and no rational argument can
be mounted against that merit. The Medi-
cal Association, the Consumers’ Associa-
tion, the Farmworkers Union, injured
workers, and families of dead workers,
must all be silenced. Otherwise the public
may become aware of the need for farm-
worker regulations, the appalling lack of
farmworker regulations, and the undenia-
ble justice of bringing in farmworker
regulations.

I can understand a callous government
trying to put a gag on this issue. I am
disappointed, however, that the commis- .
sioners of the Workers’ Compensation
Board have gone along with this injustice.
I would ask the commissioners to obtain
copies of the Agricultural Journal of June,
1922, and read the words of their prede-
cessor, Parks Williams. Sixty-one years
ago he recognized the need. Farmworkers
have waited sixty-one years for equality.
How much longer is the WCB going to
keep them waiting?

Protests set to mark Kissinger visit

A newly-formed coalition is planning
protests aimed at stopping the scheduled
visit to Vancouver next month of interna-
tionally condemned war criminal and cur-
rent Reagan advisor, Henry Kissinger,

The Coalition Against the Kissinger Visit
is seeking support from trade unions,
churches, women’s groups and other organ-
izations to publicize efforts to protest Kis-

RECEPTION

Honoring the 25th Anniversary of the Cuban
Revolution and the 131st Anniversary of the
birth of Cuba’s National Hero Jose Marti.

Guest Speaker: Professor John Kirk
Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia

Place: Peretz School, 6184 Ash Street
Date: Saturday, January 28th — 8 p.m.
© Refreshments © Entertainment

Tickets: $7.50
Unemployed, Students, Seniors: $5.00

Sponsored by:
Canadian-Cuban Friendship Assoc.

For tickets phone: 988-4729 or 879-6638

singer’s speaking engagement at the Hyatt
Regency Hotel Feb. 22.

The distribution of leaflets and posters,
and a demonstration at the hotel are in the
plannning stages. Kissinger’s visit is spon-
sored by the Junior League of Vancouver
and the publicly-funded Arts, Sciences and
Technology Centre.

The former architect of foreign policy
under president Richard Nixon is slated to
address a $150-per-plate “World Affairs
Dinner” staged to raise funds for the centre
and the league.

As head of a commission struck by U.S.
President Ronald Reagan, Kissinger has
advocated increased funding for the inter-
nationally condemned dictatorship in El
Salvador and the U.S.-armed “contras”
who stage raids on Nicaragua from bases in
neighboring Honduras. Kissinger has also
called for increased U.S. military presence
and possible intervention in El Salvador
and Nicaragua.

Nicaragua, which four years ago threw
out the U.S.-backed regime of Anastasio
Somoza, has received material aid through
campaigns initiated by Canadian unions,
international agencies and churches during
the past three years.

Kissinger drew worldwide condemnation

_ SOLIDARITY EVENING

with the People of Central America

SUNDAY, Feb. 5th
7:30 p.m.
Auditorium
King Edward

Resin
AMERICA

“From the Ashes. . .

Nicaragua Today”
“Americas in Transition”
MUSIC ARAUCARIA

—Chilean folkloric group
Sponsored

Gr. Vane, ee cpc ADM. $3.00

RANKIN
&
COMPANY

Barristers & Solicitors

4th Floor, 195 Alexander St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1N8

682-2781

Offers a broad range of
legal services including:
Personal Injury & Insurance claims
Real Estate & Conveyancing
Divorce & Family Law

Labour Law

Criminal Law

Estates & Wills

during the Nixon years for atrocities in
Vietnam, the secret bombing of Kampu-
chea (then Cambodia) in 1970, and for the
destabilizing campaign which led to the
bloody military overthrow of the govern-
ment of Salvador Allende in Chile in 1973.

Invitations for the tax-deductible event
have already gone out to several hundred
potential guests, including members of
Vancouver city council. The four aldermen
from the Committee of Progressive Electors
— Harry Rankin, Libby Davies, Bruce
Eriksen and Bruce Yorke — have declined
the invitations.

Letters protesting the visit can be sent tc
the World Affairs dinner chairman, Mr.
Russell M. Brink, c/o the Arts, Sciences and
Technology Centre, 600 Granville St. Van-
couver, V6C 1Y9.

Classified
Advertising

COMING EVENTS

JAN. 28 — Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of
the Cuban Revolution and Jose Marti’s birth-
day. See display ad for details.

JAN. 28 — Celebrate the 19th Anniversary of
the Palestinian Revolution. 6:30 p.m., 805 E.
Pender St. Arabic dinner, film & entertainment.
$7. For tickets 254-4312. Spons. by Canada
Palestine Assoc.

FEB. 5 — Central American Evening. Music &
films 7:30 p.m. See display ad.

FEB. 5 — Film showing: “The Americas in.
Transition” & ‘‘From the Ashes” (Nicaragua), 1
p.m. Room 407A Kwantlen College, 140 St. &
92 Ave., Surrey. Auspices C.P.C. Fraser Region.

FOR SALE

1982 LADA 1500 am/fm tape, a/w radials,
32,000 km, $4,500 0.b.0. Suzanne 253-7596,
pager 9570

1984 ANC Calendars honoring the women of
South Africa. $3. To order call 732-8066.
FOR RENT

3-BDRM HOUSE, furnished with bsmt, to
sublet 3 mos. ($500/mo.) or share perman-
ently ($250/mo.) beginning Feb. Call Howie
Smith, 437-3296 or Ruth Smith, 254-6781.

WANTED

NEW OR USED books on Russian Revolution,
phone 939-0020.

NOTICES

NIVA 4X4 car owners interested in a get-
together. Phone 526-5226.

COMMERCIAL

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print-
ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A
union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave., Van. Hours:
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 12 noon to
5 p.m. 733-6822.

ROOF REPAIRS — New roofs. Reasonable.
Phone 277-3352.

ELECTRICAL, plumbing, appliance repairs.
Don Berg, 255-7287.

BILL’S PLUMBING, specializing in all your
plumbing and heating needs. 299-2167 or
274-0761

LEGAL SERVICES |

RANKIN, McMURRAY, BOND. Barristers
and Solicitors, 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street.
382-3621.

DIRECTORY

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA offices
located at 102, 2747 E. Hastings St. Vancouver.
Phone 254-9836. For information on political
issues or assistance in political activity.

HALLS FOR RENT

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for
rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430.

WEBSTERS CORNERS HALL - Available for
banquets, meetings, etc. For rates: Ozzie,
325-4171 or 462-7783.

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL
CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver.
Available for banquets, weddings, meetings.
Phone 254-3436.

2

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PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JANUARY 25, 1984 e 11