Improving labour and human rights of Michoacanos living and working in California and Chicago a shared goal of UFCW and Michoacan government

UFCW Local 5 signing groundbreaking labour and human rights agreement with Government of Michoacan, Mexico

UFCW Local 881 signing groundbreaking labour and human rights agreement with Government of Michoacan, Mexico

Hayward, California and Chicago, Illinois – July 2, 2014 – UFCW Locals 5 and 881 recently met with officials from the Government of Michoacan, Mexico to sign a groundbreaking agreement that will provide training, advocacy information services, and monitoring efforts to improve the human and labour rights of Michoacanos living and working in California and Chicago.

On Thursday, June 26, Ron Lind, President of UFCW Local 5 in Hayward, California, met with the Government of Michoacan's Minister of Migration, Luis Carlos Chavez Santacruz, at Casa Michoacan in Los Angeles to sign the historic agreement with members of California's Michoacano community in attendance. Other participants included Carlos Sada, the Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles, and Emilio Suarez Licona, the Political Director of Mexico's Foreign Ministry.

Two days later, UFCW Local 881 President Ron Powell met with Mr. Chavez and Carlos Jiménez Macias, Consul General of Mexico in Chicago, at Casa Michoacan in Chicago to sign the new agreement during the celebration of the Michoacan presence in the Midwest. The signing formalized the Government of Michoacan's collaboration with UFCW Locals 5 and 881 in the United States.

Under the memoranda of understanding agreed to by all parties, SEMIGRANTE will work with UFCW Locals 5 and 881 to provide training, advocacy information services, and monitoring efforts to improve human and labour rights of Michoacanos living and working in California and Chicago. The goal of the agreement is to ensure that Michoacanos have the best tools available to empower themselves and defend their fundamental rights, while allowing them to discover how organized labour can effectively improve their living and working conditions in the United States.

"Government institutions must look for allies that provide tools to help our community members abroad," said Chavez. "The UFCW-Michoacan labour and human rights agreement is a breakthrough for Michoacanos living and working in the U.S., and clearly demonstrates that UFCW and the Government of Michoacan are committed to empowering Mexican Americans," he added.

Michoacanos comprise the largest Mexican community in the United States, with roughly 80 percent of Michoacano immigrants and migrant workers residing in California and Illinois.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is North America's neighbourhood union, representing more than 1.3 million members standing together to improve the lives and livelihoods of workers, families, and communities across the continent.