In an industry first, 150 migrant farm workers at Highline Mushrooms join the union UFCW 1518
18 Junio 2024 - 5:21PM
150 migrant agricultural workers at the four Highline Mushrooms
factory farms in Abbotsford have unionized and joined United Food
and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1518.
Through a complex corporate structure, Highline Mushrooms is a
subsidiary of the Japanese-owned Sumitomo conglomerate, which also
owns the agri-food giant Fyffes; they have pledged to defend human
and labour rights in its business principles, including core
promises about respecting the fundamental labour rights of workers
based on freedom of association as defined by the International
Labour Organization (ILO).
Migrant agricultural workers are some of the most vulnerable
workers in Canada, unprotected while working for international
agrifood conglomerates who are worth billions. The mushroom
industry is built on the labour of the migrant agricultural workers
who staff the farms, working long, grueling hours, being paid by
the piece or making barely over minimum wage. Workers can be fired
and deported back to their home countries for minor reasons, with
little to no protection or recourse. The victory at Highline
Mushrooms farms is a major step forward to changing the
industry.
This is the first group of migrant agricultural workers in
Canada to collectively exercise their fundamental right to join a
union for many years: this victory reflects Highline Mushrooms
workers’ courage and determination. The key concerns for the
workers at Highline Mushrooms are improving health and safety,
ensuring a safe and fair work environment, being treated with
dignity and respect, and the ability to bargain collectively.
"This victory is important because the union UFCW 1518 now
represents us, and we now have the support and ability to truly
assert our rights as migrant workers," says Ulises, a Highline
Mushrooms worker. "With the support of our union, the UFCW, we will
achieve greater dignity and respect, better working conditions,
proper PPE, and more."
“Congratulations to our newest UFCW 1518 members at Highline
Mushrooms, for asserting their rights and demanding that their
voices are heard,” says Patrick Johnson, President of UFCW 1518.
“These workers are an essential part of the B.C. workforce and
community. We look forward to sitting down with the employer as
soon as possible to negotiate a fair collective agreement.”
UFCW Canada commends the B.C. NDP government for making
significant steps to better protect agricultural workers’ rights.
In 2022, card check legislation was implemented, allowing for a
greater balance in the workplace and the practical ability of
marginalized workers to realize their labour rights.
“Labour rights are human rights, and we are proud to welcome
mushroom workers into our UFCW family,” says Shawn Haggerty,
National President of UFCW Canada. “We are also looking forward to
developing a constructive relationship with Highline and its parent
company Sumitomo-Fyffes, as social partners committed to advancing
decent work and socially sustainable supply chains for the agrifood
sector."
This victory by the workers at Highline Mushrooms is also a
victory for the worldwide food workers’ movement. Committed to
helping workers empower themselves, UFCW Canada works closely with
the International Union of Food International Union of Food,
Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied
Workers' Associations (IUF) to connect Highline Mushrooms workers
with other Sumitomo workers in countries around the world to build
global solidarity.
“This victory in Canada provides inspiration to migrant food
workers throughout the world, who are the backbone of the global
agrifood industry,” says Sue Longley, General Secretary of the IUF.
“This transnational corporation has made strong commitments through
their global policies about fully respecting their workers’ right
to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and we trust
that they will honour these principles. The world, and the global
food workers’ movement, is watching.”
About
UFCW Canada (the United Food and Commercial Workers Union)
represents more than 255,000 members across Canada working in every
sector of the food industry from field to table. For 30 years, UFCW
Canada has been the leading voice and advocate for domestic and
migrant agricultural workers.
Contact
Derek Johnstone, UFCW CanadaPhone: 416-679-3417Email:
derek.johnstone@ufcw.ca