UFCW Canada brings comfort to flood-stricken migrant communities in Mexico

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Guerrero, Mexico – November 27, 2013 – Last September, two powerful tropical storms hit the Pacific and Atlantic coast of Mexico, leaving behind an unspeakable amount of destruction. The state of Guerrero was particularly hit. The storms took away 40 years' worth of infrastructure in the region. Months after the tragedy, and after having lost almost everything, people are working together to rebuild their homes and communities.

In the wake of this tragedy, and as a token of respect for the unbelievable strength of migrant rural communities, UFCW Canada recently partnered with the state and municipal authorities to deliver blankets in the communities of Acalco, Coamancingo, Xalocan, San Marquitos, Amolixtlahuacán, Tepexaxococtitlán, Tetitlán, La Villa and Hueytepec. Around 1,000 families benefited from this donation and have expressed their gratitude toward Canadian workers, and UFCW Canada members in particular.

The delivery of the donations was made possible thanks to the support of Netzahualcoyotl Bustamante, Director of the Secretariat of International and Migrant Affairs (SEMAI), and Francisco Javier Garcia, Municipal President of Chilapa de Álvarez. UFCW Canada signed a mutual cooperation agreement with SEMAI in January 2012, as well as with the municipal administration of Chilapa in March 2013. The aim of the agreements is to improve the lives of migrant workers and their families in Guerrero by developing better practices and policy development regarding migrant workers, while providing support, training and assistance to workers abroad.

UFCW Canada is the country’s leading and most progressive private-sector union with more than 250,000 members across Canada, working primarily in the food production and food retail sectors. UFCW Canada, in association with the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) also operates ten agriculture worker support centers across the country.