President Felipe Calderón receives more than 5,000 protest emails to Stop the Blacklisting

TORONTO, ON – February 16, 2012 – More than 5,000 emails in one day alone have been sent to President Felipe Calderón of Mexico telling him to stop the blacklisting of Mexican migrant who exercised their fundamental human and labour rights while working Canada.

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The deluge of protest emails continue to pour in from around the world after an alert was posted on February 15 by the IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association). The IUF is a global union federation of trade unions in the agriculture, food, tobacco, and food service sectors.

The IUF alerted affiliates that Mexico has prevented pro-union Mexican migrant workers from returning to Canada. The IUF has urged affiliates to send an online message from www.ufcw.ca/stoptheblacklist , to tell President Calderón to Stop the Blacklisting and to stop the violation of the human and labour rights of Mexican workers in Canada.

Evidence indicating blacklisting activity by Mexico is currently before a labour tribunal in British Columbia.

News About the Blacklist

Leaders' Summit opportune time for Harper to ask Mexico to stop the blacklisting

Evidence pointing to Mexico blacklisting migrant workers in Canada stands, says BC Supreme Court

LRB Response to Mexico BC Supreme Court Petition

Declaration of Victor Robles re: Blacklist

Mexico labour ministry refuses to provide information
La Jornada – 20 March 2012

BC hearings start into Blacklisting of Mexican migrant workers
UFCW Canada – February 21, 2012

B.C. labour activists rally for Mexican migrant workers
CBC News - December 18, 2011

Vancouver protest on International Migrants Day aimed at Mexico blacklisting
UFCW Canada - December 18, 2011

Migrant farmers discriminated after joining union
24 Hours - Vancouver - December 18, 2011

Concerns BC migrant workers are being blacklisted
News1130 - December 18, 2011

Santa gets political in Vancouver
London Free Press - December 17, 2011

"Stop the Blacklisting" protesters hold mock funeral outside Mexico Consulate in Vancouver
UFCW Canada - November 14, 2011

Migrant workers protest alleged union blacklisting
The Province - November 14, 2011

Mexican migrant workers picket consulate in Vancouver
Calgary Herald - November 14, 2011

Protesta contra Consulado Mexicano por crear listas negra
CNN EXPANSIÓN - October 21, 2011

Labour sympathizers 'blacklisted'
Vancouver Sun - October 18, 2011

BC activists protest Mexico claim of immunity
UFCW Canada - October 17, 2011

Mexico claims immunity in B.C. charges
UFCW Canada - October 17, 2011

Members of Mexican Congress demand answers
UFCW Canada - May 27, 2011

Union busting allegations outlined at Mexico City media conference
UFCW Canada - May 18, 2011

Mexican Gov't Union Busting in BC, Charges Union
the Tyee - May 11, 2011

Charges allege Mexico consulate blacklisted migrant workers
UFCW Canada - May 10, 2011

Backgrounder media release, 10 May 2011

Mexico blocking labour activists: Canadian union
CBC News - May 10, 2011

Union accuses Mexican consulate of blacklisting farm workers
Metro Vancouver - May 10, 2011

Legal Documents & Evidence

Declaration of Victor Robles re: Blacklist

Charges filed against Mexico and Sidhu

Charges filed against Mexico and Floralia, 28 April 2011

Evidence re: blacklist activity

Mexico's claim of immunity, 19 August 2011

Union's response to Mexico's claim of immunity, 6 September 2011

Migrant Worker Rights NOW!

Support the international campaign to stop the Mexican government from reaching across Canada's border to violate our labour laws, our Charter, and the human rights of Mexican migrant workers in Canada.

Here are the facts. There are serious allegations that migrant farm workers in British Columbia are being blacklisted for voicing their support for the union and trying to exercise their basic Human Right to organize and bargain collectively.

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Charges have been filed with the B.C. Labour Board that the federal government of Mexico and its Vancouver consulate conspired with two British Columbia agriculture operations to blacklist Mexican seasonal migrant workers from returning to Canada this season because they were union sympathizers.

The evidence includes leaked documents that indicate blacklisting activity. The charges were filed by UFCW Canada Local 1518 — the union that migrant workers at Floralia Farms and Sidhu Nurseries voted to join. In addition to the blacklist, the Mexico consulate has also told workers at B.C. farms to stop visiting union-run support centres operated by the Agriculture Workers Alliance.

What does Mexico say to all of this? Mexico and its Vancouver consulate have claimed diplomatic immunity.

But Mexico must listen and you can help. Send a message to Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto to Stop the Blacklisting of Migrant Workers:

Name:

E-mail:

Message:

President Enrique Pena Nieto
Federal Government of Mexico

President Enrique Pena Nieto:

As labour rights are human rights, and as the laws of Canada apply equally to all those who work here, I am asking you to Stop the Blacklisting of Mexican migrant workers who choose to exercise their legal right to join a union while working in Canada.

Evidence before a labour tribunal in British Columbia, Canada indicates that  your Ministry of Labour and your Mexico Consulate in Vancouver conspired with some agriculture operations in British Columbia to blacklist Mexican workers from returning to Canada who were suspected of being union supporters. The evidence also indicates that some workers were directed by your officials to lead union decertification campaigns at Floralia and Sidhu Farms, where your citizens had voted to join UFCW Canada and currently have collective agreements in place.

These actions are illegal in Canada, and also contravene international conventions regarding the rights of migrant workers, and the rights of all workers to collective bargaining.

President Enrique Pena Nieto, as a leader elected to protect the people of Mexico, I ask you to guarantee an immediate end to the shameful blacklisting, and the violation of your citizens' rights to unionize and bargain for safer and better conditions while working in Canada.

Sincerely,

Verification