BANFF PORK SEMINAR

CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF AGRICULTURAL LABOUR

JANUARY 2017

International Perspective Canadian History Agents of Change Next Steps & Resources

HOW DID WE GET HERE!

GLOBAL

Agr largest employer in the world > 1 B Mature industry— surpluses, inability to

pay, high capital, high risk, low return, family orientation—life style/subsidized

Political football—tax, tariffs, trade policy Industrial nation’s farm workers are being

born in developing countries

CANADIAN HISTORY

Shortages of reliable workers for decades Seasonal, rural, physically demanding, wage

WWII—urban women, POW, DP & others 60’s Feds subsidized transportation Foreign nationals—2016—50th year of

Jamaican SAWP; 42nd for Mexico SAWP NOT like USA —migrant and illegals

SO MANY THINGS SO LITTLE TIME

AGENTS OF CHANGE MIGRATION & DEMOGRAPHICS

Migration (movement) of people Syrian war, Greece, “Brexit” concerns Brazil Russia India & China—new econs Refugee / Immigrants—potential OR threat Average age of farmers Birth rate not sustaining workforce

HAVE WE LOST CONTROL

AGENTS OF CHANGE TRADE—BEGINNING

Post WWII USA/Canada economic engine Industrial nations use of tax and tariffs Free Trade— “goods and services” 80’s approach to the redistribution of wealth Raise standard of living OR race to the bottom Broad range of goods all year round @ price Money does not recognize borders

AGENTS OF CHANGE TRADE—CURRENT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Everybody wants to protect something Trade agreements/blocks

EU and TPP complex and sophisticated Brexit and Trump—pumping the brakes Canada sign ILO conventions? Not yet! Freer trade NOT free trade

VULNERABILITY OF TRADE

CAN WE COMPETE?

AGENTS OF CHANGE FEE-FOR-SERVICE

Entrepreneur versus employee relationship? Worker protection legislated costs

Labour Relations—collective bargaining Employment Standards—minimum wage etc Health and Safety—internal responsibility system Workers Compensation—no fault insurance fees

Fee-for-service short term project contract Fewer costs with greater flexibility

AGENTS OF CHANGE UNIONS/ACTIVIST

Private sector popularity dropping Courts, Media, Soc., Community groups Leftest regimes—support and supported by A mile wide and an inch deep—in Prim Ag few Collective Agreements in any jurisdiction

very common beyond the farm gate Farmers lack experience in CB and CA

OTHER REFERENCE MATERIAL

AGENTS OF CHANGE MEDIA

Investigative reporting offering varying perspectives is rare

Tragedy sells Unions and labour activists are masters Administrators & employers—NO TRUST Social media???mob mentality Facts/experts second to “feelings”

EMPLOYERS & MEDIA

AGENTS OF CHANGE TFWP(S)

Temporary Foreign Worker Programs SAWP, Ag Stream, Low Skill, High Skill LMIA, Integrity Audits, Low Skill vs SAWP Dec. 13 Cumulative Duration eliminated Low Skill/Ag Stream—processing time, NOC

restrictions, no residency, housing differences International Mobility Program No LMIA, part of trade agreements

TFWP—HOT TOPICS

SAWP—gender equality & deductions HUMA—21 Rec. a parliamentary review Opposing views —employer vs labour activist Faster processing Trusted employer program Cap at 20%–remove cumulative duration rule Employer specific work permit—Canada 1st Pathway to residency

UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

AGENTS OF CHANGE LABOUR POLICY

Pro worker ?means? anti-employer Ideological vs grass roots ?evidence based? Vulnerable workers & precarious jobs Pro union—Why?—need other approaches Feds Free Trade; Prov protectionist

BALANCE = SUSTAINABLE

ALBERTA BILL 6

AgCoalition Consultation Tables Employment Standards—completed, agreement Labour Relations—completed, disagreement OH&S Codes 1—pending OH&S Codes 2—pending Best Practices—pending Education & Training —pending

ONTARIO REVIEW

MOL all worker protection legislation open Changing Workplace Review—LRA & ESA WSPS Ag Strategy (farm safety prevention) Rate Framework review—workers comp. Employment Protection Foreign Nationals

90’s Rae NDP government Agr. Labour Relations Act—repealed by Harris

Final offer arbitration— no strike clause

OAEPA SUMMARY

LRA— Wagner Model —farm exemption CCRF—rights of association, section 2(d) AEPA—reflects CCRF 2(d) (ILO model) Farm workers can join unions Trade Unions can represent worker interest Can not use LRA/Wagner model

Duty to bargain, exclusive representation, strike/lockout, grievance procedures

AGENTS OF CHANGE OTHER

Elite versus Masses—Brexit and Trump Employment Insurance policies Immigration Policies—67 points Urban Centric—transit; internet; infrastruct Technology—GOOGLE, Apps, robotics Extension—huge void with increasing need CAHRC products and potential

RISK OF TMI

NEXT STEPS

Anticipate change—proactive NOT reactive Focus on small direct sales OR go big HR Training Legislation—overwhelming & escalating Soft skills—comm., conflict res., DPA Managing a multi-cultural workforce Employee engagement, work proficiency Alternate compensation approaches

NEXT STEPS

Potential of TFWP Farm Politics—issues need to be heard Partner with like minded groups OCC—Keep Ontarians Working Campaign

Use the many resources of CAHRC Ag HR Toolkit

Hire needed skills—policy, legal, PR

RESOURCES

Canadian Agri Human Resources Council www.cahrc-ccrha.ca

Dr. Sara Mann, U of Guelph http://www.aghrmanagement.com

Farm Employment Labour Services http://www.fels.net/1/

University of California http://nature.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/

THE END—QUESTIONS