Jul 28, 2016

Commission proposes cut to collective bargaining in Ontario

The Farm Products Marketing Commission in Ontario, Canada has proposed switching to a free market system for the region’s vegetable sector. The switch would remove the price negotiating powers of the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG).

According to a notice posted to the Ontario Regulatory Registry, the commission is proposing “to remove the provisions establishing negotiating agencies and to add provisions establishing an industry advisory committee.”

Here’s more from the Windsor Star:

Farmers want to know what’s really behind the proposal and what’s the rush, [Leamington tomato farmer David] Epp said Tuesday. Farmers who are busy dealing with the dry weather and irrigating their crops have until Aug. 12 to comment and they don’t know if they will have to bargain individually with a processor if their board is gutted. The board expressed shock at the proposal and asked what it has done to justify the switch to a free market system.

The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers represents more than 400 farmers who grow one or more of 13 processing vegetable crops. Together, those crops are worth more than $100 million.