The United Food and Commercial Workers Union has signed a
pact with a Mexican labour organization aimed at ensuring migrant workers on
Canadian farms on better informed and protected.
The UFCW has no bargaining rights for the migrant workers
from Mexico, but has been trying for years to unionize those who work on
Canadian farms, including long-standing battles with the Ontario government.
The UFCW will be holding workshops in Mexico to brief
prospective migrant workers about their human rights, labour rights and social
security.
It also intends to keep in touch with them through 10 worker
support centres it operates across Canada.
The UFCW says it intends to help the Mexican migrant farm
workers before, during and after their work on Canadian farms.
It says it also has agreements with Mexican governments in
Michoacan, Tiaxcala and Distrito Federal.
