Leading unions in Canada and Mexico renew commitment, combined efforts in advancing migrant worker rights

Ciudad Victoria, Mexico – August 30, 2013 – Leaders from Canada and Mexico’s leading labour unions – UFCW Canada and the National Farm workers Confederation (CNC) – have renewed their joint commitment to advancing the rights and working conditions of migrant workers. Every year, thousands of Mexican migrant workers come to Canada for months at a time to make an indispensable contribution to the Canadian agriculture industry, while being denied basic labour rights that are widely available to domestic employees.  

At the CNC XXII Convention in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Paul Meinema, executive assistant to the UFCW Canada National President, had the opportunity to join farm worker leaders, representatives of rural communities and Mexican authorities in discussing a series of issues facing migrant farm workers and the international labour rights movement.

During the meeting, the leader of the CNC, Senator Gerardo Sanchez Garcia, thanked UFCW Canada for its presence at the Convention and reaffirmed the CNC’s strong commitment to migrant workers in demanding adequate safety standards and fair treatment. Senator Garcia also pointed to the urgent need for a North American agreement to protect the rights of migrant workers.

Last April, UFCW Canada and the CNC signed an historic agreement to combine their efforts in advocating for better conditions for migrant Mexican farm workers in North America.

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada) is Canada’s leading union. Representing more than a quarter of a million workers across the country, UFCW Canada has led the fight for migrant worker rights for more than two decades.