NUPGE and HSA in Solidarity with India's Farmers

Click here to be directed to HSA's FARMERS SUPPORT campaign page and send a letter to the Prime Minister and your Member of Parliament.

HSA joins with NUPGE (National Union of Public and General Employees) and its affiliated unions across the country representing 390,000 union members in condemning the response of the Indian government to the ongoing farmers’ protests in India.

HSA members are speaking out on the protests, including members of the Young Workers Advisory Group and our labour council delegates across the province. The Fraser Valley Labour Council this week passed resolutions calling on the Canadian Labour Congress to lobby the federal government to push for the removal of the Indian Farm Reforms and asking delegates to call on their national unions to do the same.

HSA’s national union, NUPGE, has already taken that step in a statement issued by NUPGE President Larry Brown this week.

"NUPGE joins the many voices in Canada and around the world condemning the violence against peaceful protestors and expressing solidarity with the farmers, workers, and other activists who are standing up for their rights, their livelihoods, and for future generations," said Larry Brown, NUPGE President.

You can read the full statement from NUPGE here. 

Farmers have been protesting against three farm bills that were passed by the Indian government in late September. The bills favour big businesses over small farmers. The protests have escalated in the last few weeks as hundreds of thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have marched on New Delhi, where they have been met by police with tear gas and water cannons.

These are the largest protests in history. Solidarity protests have taken place here in BC, in both the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan. Many British Columbians, including members of HSA, have family and friends in Punjab who will be negatively affected by these bills and have participated in the local protests, and HSA is proud to join with NUPGE to support farmers, their families, and all of us who depend on farmers for our food.

What can you do to support India's farmers?

To support NUPGE’s call to the Government of Canada to continue to speak out on the situation to keep the spotlight on India’s Modi government and the concerns of farmers, HSA members are encouraged to send an email to their Member of Parliament.

Click here to be directed to HSA's campaign page and send a letter to the Prime Minister and your Member of Parliament.

To learn more about the bills that led to these protests, here is a video explainer.

The National Farmers Union of Canada is another good resource for information.

HSA will continue share information with members on the union’s website and social media channels about ways to support India’s farmers as the international solidarity action continues to grow.