Harper government deals another blow to vulnerable migrant workers

"This is the Great Tory Ripoff of migrant workers," says UFCW Canada leader

TORONTO, ON - December 10, 2012 - Some of the most vulnerable workers in Canada have been once again viciously attacked by the Harper government which summarily announced that seasonal migrant workers will no longer have key coverage under Employment Insurance (EI), in spite of the fact that migrant agriculture workers alone pay approximately $25 million annually into the EI fund.

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Special insurance coverage helps widow of AWA member

Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico  — Linda Marlene Alvarez Mendez, widow of Crisanto Jimenez Gomez, has received a $2,500 insurance benefit following the accidental death of her husband earlier this year in Canada. As a member of the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA), Mr. Gomez was automatically covered by a no-cost accidental death policy issued by the American Income Life Insurance (AILI) company — the result of an historical agreement reached between AILI and UFCW Canada in September 2011.

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Facts facing Rural women in Canada

In most developing countries, agriculture is still the most important source of employment for women in rural areas. Women are more likely than men to earn low-wages, to work part-time and seasonally, and they tend to be paid less than their male counterparts.

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