Health and Safety For Farm Workers?

[wilagro]

ASRG: Nothing wrong if you like the old "master and slave" relationship which existed before people gained some RIGHTS.

[ColevilleH2S]

In the labour market here, today, the slave is the master, and the master the slave. That is, if you can find a slave.

That's the beauty of a free market, it can cut both ways.

[TOM4CWB]

Wilagro,

Alberta Labour markets are as hot as a fire cracker.

If folks don't like what goes on... they can find a job in short order if they are good workers.

If we are not competitive with industry... we don't have quality labour. Simple.

[ASRG]

Wilagro: Who gained the "rights"? Was it the worker....or the government?
Was there anything stopping anyone from negotiating for vacation pay, or pensions, or some kind of injury compensation?
How is it when two people can come to an agreement on pay and working conditions....we need the government in there meddling?
A good worker is worth his weight in gold...he doesn't need a bunch of government BS to keep his job....and do very well at it?
This may surprize you but most employers hire people to make money....not to provide a government welfare scheme for people too useless to make it on their own?

[wilagro]

ASRG: Apparently, you've never worked for E X P L O I T E R S.

They are the businessmen who make promises when they hire but try and screw their workers every frickin day of the year.

Having been a peon as well as a manager, I have a pretty good idea of how and why employers hire. I have hired AND fired people as part of my duties...a job that I really didn't enjoy.

Your ideal of a one-on-one contract is just that...an ideal situation. Trouble is it doesn't work in most situations. Human greed and power trips get in the way.

Government labour legislation is needed to keep people honest and to have at least a more or less equitable situation amongst all the parties involved. Usury is not dead, it can easily rear its ugly head especially in times of high unemployment or labour surplus.

[ASRG]

wilagro: I was basically just pulling your chain! In my youth I worked for a lot of assholes.....and a few guys who were really, really good!
I've worked pipeline, rigs and a packing plant (union)......as well as a couple of farmers when I was a kid. Maybe I was lucky....but the farmers always treated me more than fair....treated me like I was a man....when in fact I was a naive farm kid?
I've had several employees when I owned a reclamation company. Some were outstanding...some were warm bodies (and that is being charitable)!
I am not against the working man....I just really....REALLY.... don't like the government....and their big nose in my business!!!
There has to be a better way than letting government clowns run the show?

[Hopperbin]

Basically grain farming is a temporary job. Ok today can hire someone year round and get shit done but typically a couple guys can manage say saskfarmer3's farm and hire a few temporary workers. Not against safety, and think things can be improved such as our grain trucks should be safetied. Maybe we shoudl even have safety meeting, case of beer involved of course.

[charliep]

Will leave the conversation about whether should be
compulsory or not to others. The two reason I would
think some include something like WCB in my risk
management plan are: 1) To ensure my farm
employees are protected in case of an accident so
they are able to maintain a reasonable life in spite of
whatever the consequences of the accident are and 2)
As a business with lots of equity, you will be a target
of any lawsuit that could come about as a result of
the injury.

Realize that the comment about a safety
meeting/case of beer was tongue in cheek but my
God son is a millwright and every work day starts with
a meeting on that day's job and safety issues. Not
following safety protocols (safety glasses, gloves,
etc.) means being fired on the spot- no questions.
The companies cannot take the liability side of poor
health and safety policies/execution.