Working Conditions
Legislation exempting agricultural operations from minimum labour standards was implemented before industrial agriculture arose, when family farming was the dominant form of agriculture. Job creation statistics used to promote industry expansion do not highlight certain aspects that would call into question the quality of the jobs created. According to Hogwatch Manitoba research, the North America hog industry labour force annual turnover rate is 100%, which seems to indicate that the quality of jobs created is quite low.
Along with the issue of fair compensation is the issue of the health risks faced by workers in intensive livestock operations. The following are some links that explore the issues related to working conditions further.
Where's The Justice For Agriculture Workers?
is a Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-Manitoba publication outlining some of the issues faced by agricultural workers.The Institute of Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health
has links to several research projects about some of the health issues faced by workers in ILO's.The Grain Services Union
has information about hog barns, and in particular has information on the only unionized hog barn in North America, at Bear Hills Pork in Saskatchewan.