Migrant farm workers at Fyffes’ Highline Mushrooms apply to join United Food and Commercial Workers
2024年6月13日 - 10:33AM
Agricultural workers at four Highline Mushrooms factory farms in
British Columbia have applied to join United Food and Commercial
Workers (UFCW) Canada. Highline Mushrooms is one of Canada’s
biggest mushroom producers and is owned by transnational agrifood
giant Fyffes.
The victory reflects Highline Mushroom workers’ drive and
determination to improve their working conditions, representing the
first group of migrant agricultural workers in Canada to
collectively exercise their fundamental right to join a union in
many years.
Agricultural workers are some of the most vulnerable workers in
Canada, unprotected while working for transnational agrifood
conglomerates worth billions. The Canadian mushroom industry alone
earns over $650 million annually with over 250 mushroom farms,
employing more than 5,000 agricultural workers. The mushroom
industry is built on the labour of the migrant agricultural workers
who staff the farms, working long, grueling hours, being paid by
the piece or making barely over minimum wage. The victory at
Highline Mushrooms farms is a major step forward to changing the
industry, as workers assert their rights and demand that their
voices are heard.
“We want to join the union because we want fairer treatment,
support in case of accidents at work, stable schedules, safe
housing, and recall rights. We want to have a voice,” says Karen,
union activist, “We want a workplace free of dangers, with fair
treatment and job stability.”
The key concerns for the workers at Highline Mushrooms are
improving health and safety, ensuring a safe and fair work
environment, being treated with dignity and respect, and the
ability to bargain collectively.
“Congratulations to Highline Mushrooms workers for their courage
and determination in asserting their rights,” says Patrick Johnson,
President of UFCW 1518. “We are excited about the possibly to
represent these workers and improve their lives by negotiating a
strong union contract.”
In exercising their labour rights, the workers at Fyffes’
Highline Mushrooms have the support of the local, national and
international union standing behind them.
“For the past three decades UFCW has been the leading force in
helping migrant workers exercise their fundamental rights,” says
Shawn Haggerty, National President of UFCW Canada. “Labour rights
are human rights, and we will be proud to welcome Fyffes’ mushroom
workers into our UFCW family.”
Highline Mushrooms’ parent company Fyffes has pledged to defend
human and labour rights in its business principles, including core
promises about respecting the fundamental labour rights of workers
based on freedom of association as defined by the International
Labour Organization (ILO).
This victory by the workers at Highline Mushrooms will also be a
victory for the worldwide food workers’ movement. Committed to
helping workers empower themselves, UFCW Canada works closely with
the International Union of Food International Union of Food,
Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied
Workers' Associations (IUF) to connect Highline Mushrooms workers
with other Fyffes workers in countries around the world to build
global solidarity.
“This victory in Canada provides inspiration to migrant food
workers throughout the world, who are the backbone of the global
agrifood industry,” says Sue Longley, General Secretary of the IUF.
“Fyffes has made strong commitments through their global policies
about fully respecting their workers’ right to freedom of
association and collective bargaining, and we trust that they will
honour these principles. The world, and the global food workers’
movement, is watching.”
About
UFCW Canada (the United Food and Commercial Workers Union)
represents more than 255,000 members across Canada working in every
sector of the food industry from field to table. For 30 years, UFCW
Canada has been the leading voice and advocate for domestic and
migrant agricultural workers.
Contact
Derek Johnstone, UFCW CanadaPhone: 416-679-3417Email:
derek.johnstone@ufcw.ca