Agricultural Labour Relations in Ontario

While agriculture workers in other provinces have succeeded in organizing under those provinces’ labour acts, and despite the fact that over 80,000 workers are employed in the Ontario agri-industry at hundreds of locations, not one group of Ontario agriculture workers has ever been able to organize or bargain collectively under the AEPA. Evidently, the AEPA does not provide for meaningful collective bargaining. Instead, the Act weakens effective collective bargaining — without compensating with a binding arbitration provision.

Despite the current legislation – which has proven insufficient in upholding the labour rights of agriculture workers in Ontario – UFCW has continued to act as a primary advocate, representative, and resource for workers in the sector. Through outreach programs, we continue to deliver information on labour rights and health and safety training to workers in the sector. Recognizing the large number of seasonal agricultural workers that come to Ontario every year under foreign worker programs, UFCW Canada has developed specific programs to provide assistance and support to these workers.