Migrant Workers Murdered in B.C. on Int'l Women's Day
Today is International Women's Day.
All over the world, people are gathering in groups large and small to declare one heroic thing or another.
Here in B.C., we are following the so-called "tragedy" of a car crash that has killed 3 women and left many others injured.
Connection?
Simply this: 17 women, aged 20 to 60, travelling in a van at 6:20 in the morning (I was comfortably asleep in my warm and safe bed. Where were you?), in a van with wooden benches for seats and no seat belts. Camping trip? Religious retreat? Social work conference?
No. They were on their happy, happy way to pick berries.
The driver, a woman, lost control of her vehicle, the van flipped and now this.
The speeches will be made about the plight of women around the globe. And the speeches will be right, no doubt.
But we have unions here in British Columbia. And we have an intelligent and caring administration. Don't we? And we have regulations? And protections for workers. And inspectors. Don't we? Don't we?
Seventeen women. One van. Wooden benches not locked in place. No seat belts.
Go ahead. Make a speech.
2 comments:
what do you mean "a so-called tragedy"? Please explain.
Thanks.
A.
What I meant be "so-called tragedy" was given in the title of the the post. I used the verb "Murdered."
The point is that while this is strictly speaking an accident, there is so much lack of due diligence on the part of the employer, the unions,and the governments involved that we have all contributed to an unnecessary and cruel loss of life for women who were simply trying to make a living to support their families.
This is not something that should make any of us in Canada proud or allow us to feel superior when it comes to Women's Rights.
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