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Farm Workers’ Organizing Committee rally, November 3, 1979. Sean Griffin photo, Image MSC160-489_02A. Courtesy Pacific Tribune Photo Collection, Simon Fraser University Library.
The origins of the Canadian Farmworkers Union can be traced to the Vancouver chapter of the Indian People’s Association of North America (IPANA). Its earliest members included Harinder Mahil, Raj Chouhan and Chin Banerjee. These men were already friends who recognized that farmworkers in British Columbia were being exploited. At an IPANA meeting in 1979, Chouhan and Mahil agreed to attempt to organize the farmworkers. Both had personally experienced the working conditions on farms and both had connections to the labour movement.
A Farm Workers Organizing Committee (FWOC) meeting in the Fraser Valley, mostly attended by women c. 1979. “The main objective for the FWOC was to expose the conditions of farmwork for seasonal workers in the Fraser Valley. The approach was to work with farmworkers, to lobby the government and to undertake public education.” Image Photos-132, Canadian Farmworkers Photo Collection, Simon Fraser University Library.
Financial and organizational support for the CFU was received from BC unions and the Canadian Labour Congress. Union leaders, activists and members were extremely active in supporting CFU organizing drives and picket lines.
Gerry Stoney, President of IWA Local 1-357 (New Westminster), was the key connection between the CFU and the BC labour movement. Canadian Farmworkers Union Collection, Simon Fraser University Library.On April 6, 1980, to the rousing cry of “Zindabad!” (long live!), the FWOC became a union – the Canadian Farmworkers Union (CFU). In July of that same year the CFU achieved its first union certification of farmworkers. Image Photos-028. Canadian Farmworkers Union Collection, Simon Fraser University Library.Union support came from beyond British Columbia’s borders. United Farm Workers President Cesar Chavez came to Canada from California to assist CFU President Raj Chouhan. The two leaders connected through their shared struggle and met many times over the years. EPH0556, Canadian Farmworkers Union Collection, Simon Fraser University Library.
