“The vulnerable among us”: Flood compensation for migrant workers in Manitoba

Many migrant farm workers in Manitoba are working directly in the path of the floodwaters in Manitoba, and have had their livelihoods harmed by the flood as much as any other resident of the area. Since the money these workers make goes home to their economically-depressed countries of origin to help support their families, the flood probably has a greater negative impact on these workers than on the average Canadian.

The Winnipeg Free Press recently ran an article on the impact of the flood on migrant workers in the province; Jennifer deGroot, a member of the Migrant Worker Solidarity Network, had her letter to the editor published as Letter of the Day in the Winnipeg Free Press about the challenges these workers face in Canada and the need for them to be covered by any provincial flood compensation scheme. You can find the text of the letter below.

UFCW accuses Mexican consulate of migrant-worker union busting in B.C.

CBC News is reporting that the UFCW is presenting allegations that the Mexican consulate in Vancouver collaborated with employers in union-busting. Based on leaked documents from the consular office, it appears the consulate blocked pro-union migrant workers from returning to Canada for this growing season and has been threatening workers with deportation if they join a union.

From the CBC.ca article:

A Canadian union accuses Mexican consular officials in Vancouver of blacklisting and harassing Mexican farm workers who voted in favour of forming a union at two Surrey, B.C., farms.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union told a Vancouver news conference Tuesday it has filed complaints about the alleged activities with the B.C. Labour Relations Board.

“Migrant workers facing serious health risks”: Canadian Medical Assoc. Journal

From the April 19th Winnipeg Free Press, a news article about the health risks faced by migrant farm workers in Canada.

UPDATE: You can find more information about the report in this news article at ScienceDaily; the UFCW has also issued a press release on these reports.

From the WFP/Canadian Press article:

Many migrant farm workers who come to Canada every year are not given proper safety training, live in hot and cramped quarters, have no access to clean water and see their health suffer as a result, say two new research papers.

Researchers found that many workers from Mexico, Jamaica, the Philippines and other countries develop ailments linked to the gruelling work they do on Canadian farms, largely in British Columbia and Ontario.

Welcome!

Welcome to the website of the Migrant Workers Solidarity Network!

We’ve spruced up the website- you can now find above more information about the MWSN, see what we’ve published on the issue of migrant workers in the province, and see how you can get involved to support migrant workers in the province.

We would also love to hear from you: you can contact us at mw.solidarity (at) gmail.com.

-the MWSN

Send a letter to Minister Jason Kenney and oppose the changes to the TFW program!

As you may have heard, on November 9 the Federal Government will be making major changes in the regulations covering migrant workers in Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker program.  Under the guise of better protecting these vulnerable men and women, the proposed regulations will actually negatively impact them in a very serious way.

Please consider downloading and printing this letter and sending it to Minister Kenny.  You might also send a copy to your local MP. Make sure you print your name and address and date at the top of the letter, and sign your name at the end of the letter.

Global Justice Film Festival

The Migrant Worker Solidarity Network of Manitoba will have a table and some informational material available at the Global Justice Film Festival, including a petition letter on gaining provincial health coverage for migrant workers in Manitoba through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

Hope to see you there!