Spill Ur Beanz

The BC government is failing our employees, and the employees of community social service organizations across the province. Our workers deserve pay equity, and... the government has a responsibility to provide it through their new mandate. Through our collective Labour Relations Board filing, we're calling on Premier Horgan and his cabinet to deliver change. #equalpayBC Visit: www.equalpaybc.ca See more

Rant for the day. Jubilee Park garbage cans everywhere and people are to lazy to use them or take garbage home. Dog poop in bags thrown on grass, COVID masks, coffee cups etc. Let’s strive to be a cleaner city.

If you are one of the hundreds of people out there in Surrey/Abby/Vancouver/Kelowna/Nanaimo protesting in solidarity with Punjabi farmers this week-then you bel...ong to a multigenerational history of farmer activism in the Fraser Valley. Here is some of you sacred history: In the 1970s, 80% of farm workers in BC were Punjabi settlers. Most of them made around $2000 A YEAR as berry pickers. Often times children would accompany their parents to the farms. I remember going to pick berries with my mum a few times, do you? Farm owners would usually say the kids did all the work, it’s so easy, and use that as an excuse to not pay labourers. These labourers had long working hours for almost no pay. They faced incredible racism, and violence when they asked for their wages-often waiting months at a time to be paid. So they all rallied together and decided to advocate for daycare for their children, safe working conditions, and fair wages. In response they were threatened with more violence. Their meagre belongings vandalized. But they were not afraid. Can you imagine our aunties and uncles, our bibis-without all the wealth and numbers we have now-decked out in their suits and sneakers marching down Robson AND getting their demands met In 1980, these brilliant farm workers decided to form an official trade union-The Canadian Farmworkers Union. They elected Raj Chouhan as their president. This newly unionized community then got to work building cross community solidarity. Working with representatives from Indigenous, Phillipino, and Mexican communities they formed the BC Organization to fight racism. Many Canadians don’t understand the historical significance of civil rights leader Ceasar Chavez. But in America, for the Mexican people he is an Icon. Punjabi union workers engaged with him, often inviting him to speak at their rallies. They learned a great deal. They understood that at the heart of activism is intercultural solidarity. In this way from the 70’s to present day they bestowed BC with decades worth of history which at its heart is rooted in farming, and anti-racism. If today you protest, you aren’t alone. These mighty leaders who came before you march with you. They made this space for you, they gave you the history to stand on and do this work confidently. Today, on December 7th 2020, the first president of the Canadian Farm Workers Union, and co-creator of the BC Organization to Fight Racism, Raj Chouhan created history once again. He got elected to be the first South Asian Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of BC. In his speech he said thank you, merci, then raised his fist in solidarity with the farmers and said zindabad. Legends walk among us. We have history on these lands, and it is mighty. Here is a link to a short documentary which contains incredible footage of the Punjabi community unionizing back in the 70’s https://youtu.be/Vb5A4d0dO-8 Here is a link to get you started on learning about the icon that is Caesar Chavez https://www.google.ca//www/.amp/topics/mexico/cesar-chavez Here is a link to the full chronological history of BC farm worker unions https://www.lib.sfu.ca//canadian-farmworkers-union-chronol And most importantly here are pictures of them all. Including my personal hero Bibi Pritam Kaur ji singing boliya to rally the protestors if I never get to say it in real life, Bibi Ji: tuhadee baut baut mehrbani