Follow the Seasons

24/01/2024

Imperfection Fresh!!! – SMH Reports Farm Sexual Assaults!

It makes my blood boil when I read shocking stories like this.

Not one but 12 women sexually assaulted at a Perfection Fresh workplace. And not for the first time.

All apparently Pacific Islander workers.

Two men allegedly perpetrators. One supposedly fired the other resigning. Apparently, no report to Police?

These questions need to be asked:
• Why weren’t the police called in it is crime?
• Why hasn’t the labour hire company and any others withdrawn all workers from Perfection Fresh workplaces to properly protect workers?
• Where is the Chief Executive leading from the front foot?
• Why aren’t the supermarkets asking a major supplier to ensure workers have safe workplaces, they’ve all signed up to Fair Farms?
• Why isn’t Perfection Fresh guaranteeing their farms are safe where women can safely work?
• Conduct like this contributes to farm labour shortages.
• When you read this story – tell me if you agree? Like our page and keep up to date.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/twelve-women-sue-fresh-produce-giant-over-alleged-sexual-harassment-20240118-p5eyff.html

Seasonal workers who picked tomatoes at a site run by Perfection Fresh claim they were repeatedly harassed at work.

22/02/2022

Today our Prime Minister said that Russia should step back. I and think most people agree. This is a comment I made in the SMH in response:
I am reminded in the Putin manufactured crisis over Ukraine of Winston Churchill's apocryphal statement on governments dealing with dictators and their demands that: '...Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. All of them hope that the storm will pass before their turn comes to be devoured. But I fear greatly that the storm will not pass. It will rage and it will roar ever more loudly, ever more widely.'
A lesson in history. When do you stand up for principles?

26/01/2022

https://www.facebook.com/101128001627487/photos/a.214084693665150/478607143879569/?__cft__[0]=AZU8rZI1Vk2va9vtYcAqhYuR1Kjovua_qROEyI6p4yEPRC3MewDUWt8xtoCmPaQ-yi8v-_eUVdtQvL2h5WuIxuvGZeFD0Pwj8fmsRpAU4uaZANydJicEnvKQqfGZYyKb2fQM4mDhPkt_KgnEtZSyjbkgPLsU-YR9vCiVbZKSOsL7cN0RVr1tfF1kesY81dKUYxzPlk-p3SPu9TfCADnBzUuz&__tn__=EH-y-R

Whatever your view about the day and what it represents to you it provides us all with an opportunity to recognise the cultures old and new that makes our country what it is and will be. Importantly, a poignant message for young Australians to think about and to shape the country and civil society they want Australia to become.

30/12/2021

21/12/2021

The ABC strikes gold again on rural worker mistreatment
On 14 December 2021 the ABC published both an article and a broadcast on 7.30 about undocumented migrant worker exploitation. This is the article link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-14/australias-farm-industry-seasonal-workers-exploited-labour-short/100687182?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
This is the link to 7.30 story, which commences at c5.35minutes continuing until c15.42 minutes.
https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2101H198S00
The story deals with undocumented worker exploitation in the horticulture industry.
Significant issues raised are:
• Wage theft
• Both underpayment - over charging for substandard accommodation
• Exaggerated promises made by labour hire contractors
• High worker abscondment rates
• Ongoing issues of sexual assault and harassment
Currently, the Federal Government has augmented the Pacific Islander and Timor Leste program to deal with current acute labour shortages. The government is planning on the introduction of a special Ag Visa and with it a pathway for workers to permanent residency.
Whilst the Ag Visa has merit it too could run into similar troubles as all other visa categories. One solution could be that access to the program can only be for those farms signed up to the Australian Government funded Fair Farms Program.
Fair Farms will attract better more reliable workers, lift supply chain efficiency with greatly increased productivity.
https://fairfarms.com.au/
The ABC story estimated that there were between 60,000 to 100,000 undocumented workers on Australian farms.
Various people have suggested that these workers should be shown some visa leniency as they helped many farm businesses through the pandemic. In doing so they kept fresh food supplies flowing to Australian families, which was especially important during lockdowns.
Manybusyhands supports fair, safe well rewarded work.
There’s a petition doing the rounds that is to the Federal Parliament to request visa leniency for these workers. What do you think?
If you agree then you can follow this link and sign it. You will be asked to verify your agreement through a confirming link. Deadline is 22 Dec 2021.
https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN3547?fbclid=IwAR2J-79_2hNKqiZvq9NWJAczVJUYjXlItXCnPCrdIUpom8bJVriuRx-3MVc
Farms Work # Wage theft work work work

e-petitions

20/12/2021

The ABC strikes gold again on rural worker mistreatment
On 14 December 2021 the ABC published both an article and a broadcast on 7.30 about undocumented migrant worker exploitation. This is the article link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-14/australias-farm-industry-seasonal-workers-exploited-labour-short/100687182?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
This is the link to 7.30 story, which commences at c5.35minutes continuing until c15.42 minutes.
https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2101H198S00
The story deals with undocumented worker exploitation in the horticulture industry.
Significant issues raised are:
• Wage theft
• Both underpayment - over charging for substandard accommodation
• Exaggerated promises made by labour hire contractors
• High worker abscondment rates
• Ongoing issues of sexual assault and harassment
Currently, the Federal Government has augmented the Pacific Islander and Timor Leste program to deal with current acute labour shortages. The government is planning on the introduction of a special Ag Visa and with it a pathway for workers to permanent residency.
Whilst the Ag Visa has merit it too could run into similar troubles as all other visa categories. One solution could be that access to the program can only be for those farms signed up to the Australian Government funded Fair Farms Program.
Fair Farms will attract better more reliable workers, lift supply chain efficiency with greatly increase productivity.
https://fairfarms.com.au/
The ABC story estimated that there were between 60,000 to 100,000 undocumented workers on Australian farms.
Various people have suggested that these workers should be shown some visa leniency as they helped many farm businesses through the pandemic. In doing so they kept fresh food supplies flowing to Australian families, which was especially important during lockdowns.
Manybusyhands supports fair, safe well rewarded work.
There’s a petition doing the rounds that is to the Federal Parliament to request visa leniency for these workers. What do you think?
If you agree then you can follow this link and sign it. You will be asked to verify your agreement through a confirming link. Deadline is 22 Dec 2021.
https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN3547?fbclid=IwAR2J-79_2hNKqiZvq9NWJAczVJUYjXlItXCnPCrdIUpom8bJVriuRx-3MVc
Farms Work # Wage theft work work work #

e-petitions