The BC
Federation of Labour is welcoming news that charges have finally been laid
against two companies and four individuals in the deaths of three workers at a
mushroom farm in Langley on September 5, 2008.

"The families
of the men who were killed and injured have waited a long time for news that
charges have been laid," says Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C.
Federation of Labour. "This is a step in the right direction and sends a
message to employers that they face potential jail time if they fail to provide
safe workplaces."

The owners
of the mushroom farm are facing sweeping charges that include failure to
provide adequate training, supervision, safety programs, identification of
hazards and confined space precautions.

"We
hope that justice will be done, but given the fact that three men were killed
and two grievously injured, and the sweeping nature of the 29 charges laid by
the Crown, we must question why criminal charges were not laid in this
case," Sinclair says.

The
Federation also questions the length of time it took for the WCB to complete
its investigation and the laying of charges.